How Can a DAG Blockchain Stay Structurally Stable? Starcoin’s Solution

In the fast-evolving world of blockchain technology, Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) have attracted wide attention for their ability to support parallel processing and high throughput. However, this highly flexible structure also introduces a new challenge: without proper constraints, the network topology can become increasingly divergent, making it difficult to maintain a clear and consistent main path.

Imagine a river that continuously branches into smaller tributaries. As these offshoots multiply and crisscross, the flow becomes chaotic, the main direction becomes unclear, and the water slows down — or worse, overflows uncontrollably. This is what can happen in a DAG blockchain when too many “red blocks” are generated.

In a DAG network, blocks are typically classified as either blue (valid blocks on the main consensus path) or red (blocks that deviate from the main path and are not adopted by the consensus). If red blocks accumulate excessively, the structure becomes messy, synchronization slows down, and the system as a whole can become unstable.

Starcoin’s Solution: Red Branch Filtering

To address this problem, Starcoin has introduced a Red Branch Filtering mechanism, a structural safeguard that proactively controls the divergence of the DAG topology and maintains network stability.

The mechanism works by designating a historical blue block as a reference point. All new blocks must trace their ancestry back to this blue block; otherwise, they are filtered out and discarded. This ensures that only blocks aligned with the main chain structure are retained, keeping the DAG orderly and resilient.

Working in Tandem with Pruning: From Input to Storage Optimization

The Red Branch Filtering mechanism works hand in hand with Starcoin’s pruning feature to deliver a full-stack optimization:

• Pruning regularly removes historical redundant blocks, simplifying the DAG’s storage footprint.
• Red Branch Filtering prevents topological explosion from the very beginning, by enforcing cleaner block generation rules.

Together, these two mechanisms not only improve performance but also strengthen the network’s resistance to attacks. Malicious nodes attempting to flood the network with invalid blocks will be automatically filtered out — they won’t affect consensus or propagation.

Business Value: Stability Drives Trust

In real-world applications, Red Branch Filtering provides a solid foundation for various blockchain use cases, especially those requiring high consistency and reliability. For instance:

• Supply chain management ensures that each state change is traceable and unique.
• Digital asset tokenization, guarantees ledger integrity and tamper resistance.
• In blockchain-based identity systems, it underpin data trust and consistency.

By ensuring that the network topology remains stable even under high loads or malicious activity, Starcoin meets the demands of enterprise-grade applications.

Clear Structure for Complex Scenarios

As DAG blockchains continue to evolve, topological control and consensus clarity have become essential criteria for determining whether a system is ready for real-world deployment.

Starcoin’s Red Branch Filtering mechanism represents a key step toward improving long-term stability and operational sustainability. It not only enhances current performance but also lays a strong foundation for broader, more complex use cases in the future.

About Starcoin

Starcoin provides the utmost security from the origin via its enhanced PoW consensus and Secure smart contract, using the language of Move. Through layered and flexible interoperability, it optimizes the building of ecosystems such as DeFi, NFTs, Gaming, etc., with higher efficiency and convenience. This process redefines value by empowering every participant in the ecosystem to enjoy the multiplication of values.

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