A Green Proof-of-Contribution (G-PoC) Consensus Algorithm for Secure Data Sharing in Regional Networks

Abstract

For regional economies striving for both digital transformation and green development, existing blockchain consensus algorithms present a dilemma: Proof-of-Work (PoW) is notoriously energy-intensive, while Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and state-of-the-art high-throughput algorithms like Proof-of-Authority (PoA) fail to effectively incentivize the high-quality data contributions crucial for economic collaboration. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a novel Green Proof-of-Contribution (G-PoC) consensus algorithm. G-PoC introduces a multi-dimensional “Green Contribution” metric that quantifies a node's value to the network by holistically evaluating its data sharing quality, system stability, and energy efficiency. This mechanism incentivizes nodes to not only share valuable data but also to optimize their operational and energy footprints. The GPoC consensus process was designed, including a leader selection mechanism based on the contribution score. A simulation-based performance evaluation demonstrates that, compared to PoW, PoS and PoA, G-PoC significantly reduces energy consumption by up to 95% against PoW, while enhancing data-related transaction throughput and promoting decentralization. The results confirm that G-PoC provides a secure, efficient, and ecologically-sound technical solution for building collaborative data sharing platforms in regional economies.