Exploring the tripartite architecture of blockchain-based decentralized governance systems

As the world becomes more interconnected, the need for secure and reliable methods to foster collaboration among distrusting parties grows increasingly vital. Decentralized trust systems, supported by blockchain technology, have the potential to reshape the way we manage trust and cooperation. This thesis delves into three fundamental aspects of blockchain-based decentralized governance systems, drawing parallels with the traditional legislative, executive, and judicial branches of governance. We explore the key challenges in each area. First, we introduce a judicial framework for blockchain systems by investigating the forensic support capabilities of a wide range of consensus protocols. This adds a crucial post-breach layer to traditional consensus mechanisms, enabling the identification and accountability of malicious actors following a security breach. Second, to strengthen the legislative branch in a cross-chain world, we present the TrustBoost protocol, which enhances trust across interoperable blockchains without requiring weaker chains to sacrifice their sovereignty, addressing the security imbalances that arise in cross-chain applications. Lastly, the dissertation proposes an incentivized watchtower network, secured by the Proof of Diligence protocol, for Layer 2 optimistic rollups. We develop a cryptoeconomic model that ensures diligent monitoring of transactions through properly aligned incentives, filling the gap in the executive role. Together, this thesis contributes to a systematic understanding of decentralized trust systems and their potential to democratize various facets of society.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Sheng, Peiyao

Contributors dc:contributor

• Viswanath, Pramod
• Rosu, Grigore
• Miller, Andrew
• Ren, Ling
• Nayak, Kartik

• Blockchain
• Decentralized Trust System

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Peiyao Sheng

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127188

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127188