Secret Smart Contracts in Hierarchical Blockchains

Abstract

This article presents the results of an implementation of a new platform based on swarm communication and executable choreographies. In our research of executable choreographies, we have come up with a more general model to implement smart contracts and a generic architecture of systems using hierarchical blockchain architecture. The novel concepts of secret smart contract and near-chain are introduced. The near-chain approach presents a new method to extend the hierarchical blockchain architecture and to improve performance, security and privacy characteristics of general blockchain-based systems. As such, we are subsequently defining and explaining why any extension of blockchain architectures should revolve around three essential dimensions: trustlessness, non-repudiation and tamper resistance. The hierarchical blockchain approach provides a novel perspective, as well as establishing off-chain storages (near-chains) as special types of hierarchical blockchains stored in a distributed file system. Furthermore, we are providing solutions to the difficult blockchain concerns regarding scalability, performance and privacy issues