PocketChain: Redefining blockchain integration with resource-constrained devices

The proliferation of blockchain technology has highlighted the need for scalable consensus mechanisms that transcend traditional resource-intensive infrastructures. Modern blockchain implementations demand evolution beyond computationally expensive mining operations toward lightweight validation mechanisms optimized for resource-constrained devices, particularly mobile endpoints. While existing mobile-oriented blockchains demonstrate certain merits, they often compromise between decentralization, security guarantees, and resource efficiency. To overcome these challenges, we introduce PocketChain, a decentralized blockchain framework designed for heterogeneous environments by adapting to varying device capabilities, from resource-constrained mobile devices to powerful nodes. At the core of PocketChain lies $Pccp$, a novel two-phase consensus protocol that combines resource-aware parallel endorsement with scalable Byzantine reliable broadcast, achieving logarithmic communication complexity while maintaining Byzantine fault tolerance. The protocol’s dynamic role-based architecture enables seamless role transition based on resource availability, while its endorsement mechanism provides efficient conflict resolution. Our analysis and evaluation demonstrate PocketChain’s ability to scale with network size while maintaining high throughput and energy efficiency, positioning PocketChain at the backbone for decentralized applications that seamlessly operate within the same mobile environments they serve.