Blockchain Simulator for Consensus Algorithms and Security Testing in Future IoT

Abstract

Blockchain is expected to play a key role in securing next generation communication systems, i.e., B5G and 6G, which will be highly decentralised, with high integration of edge computing, device-to-device (D2D) communications, and notably IoT networks. This paper addresses a fundamental bottleneck of blockchain; the simulation of consensus algorithms. State-of-the-art blockchain consensus algorithm simulators are built on general data that do not consider resource-constrained devices. These simulators have limitations in performance measurement (energy, latency, and throughput) and testing of security attacks, including DoS, Sybil, and 34% or 51% attacks). This paper introduces a blockchain Internet of Things consensus algorithm (BICA) simulator, which offers a framework for testing consensus algorithms with adaptable IoT data in various attack scenarios. It evaluates metrics such as latency, throughput, and attack resilience, providing insights into their capabilities under diverse network conditions. A case study involving Proof of Stake (PoS), Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), Proof of Elapse Time (PoET), Proof of Authority (PoA) and Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) showed PBFT’s superior performance and security against vulnerabilities such as Sybil, DoS, and 34-51% attacks. BICA’s block-creation speed surpasses that of the existing simulators.