A Tool for Moving Blockchain Computations Off-Chain

Abstract

This paper proposes a new approach and tool for blockchain software developers and architects to use for determining which computations of a smart contract can be effectively done off-chain without loss of trust and how they can be moved off-chain automatically. Our approach uses Finite State Machines (FSMs) and Hierarchical State Machines (HSMs) modeling in order to create smart contract patterns using graphs and then use pattern properties to identify which parts of the smart contracts should be considered for moving off-chain. Once software execution transits into the pattern's entry state, off-chain execution continues until the execution transits into the pattern's exit state, when execution continues on-chain. This paper further describes a tool for (1) FSM input and visualization, its analysis, and automatic transformation into a smart contract, and (2) an interface to support the developers' decision to optimally off-chain computations and to (3) define the communications between on-chain and off-chain computations.