Merkleova stabla i njihove primjene u blockchain tehnologiji

master's thesis

• Title (english): Merkle trees and their applications in blockchain technology
• Author: Matej Polutranko
• Mentor: Andrej Novak (mentor)
• Committee member: Andrej Novak (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Davor Horvatić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maja Planinić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maro Cvitan (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Petar Žugec (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Physics); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-01-11, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Physics

Abstract

Merkleovo stablo je binarno hash stablo čiji čvorovi, za razliku od klasičnih stabala, spremaju hash vrijednosti. Najveću primjenu je pronašlo u blockchain tehnologiji gdje se koristi kao dio procesa sigurnog spremanja transakcija. Uz to što osigurava zaštitu od neovlaštenih izmjena ono omogućuje i sažimanje podataka, pa i transakcija, u jednu vrijednost zvanu Merkleov korijen. Merkleovo stablo je ključan dio stvaranja kriptovaluta pa je opisana i osnovna ideja blockchaina na primjeru Bitcoina. Bitcoin je prva poznata izvedba decentraliziranog načina plaćanja u kojem korisnici sudjeluju u ravnopravnoj mreži. Način na koji se svi korisnici mogu složiti o stanju popisa transakcija se zove konsenzus, a u Bitcoinu je on ostvaren pomoću dokaza o radu. Dokaza o obavljenom radu se dobije rješavanjem kriptografskih zagonetki, a on omogućuje korisnicima spremanje novih blokova u blockchain.

Abstract (english)

Merkle tree is a binary tree in which every leaf is labelled with the cryptographic hash of a data block, while other nodes are labelled with the cryptographic hash of the labels of their child nodes. Its most popular use case is in blockchain where it is used as part of the process of securely storing transactions. In addition to providing protection against unauthorized changes, it also enables data, and by extent transactions, to be compressed into a single value called the Merkle root. The Merkle tree is a key data structure used by cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and we use these platforms to demonstrate the basic ideas behind blockchain technology. Bitcoin is the first known implementation of a decentralized payment method in which users participate in a peer-to-peer network. The way in which all users can agree on the state of transactions is called consensus, and in the case of Bitcoin, it is achieved through a proof of work paradigm. Simply speaking, proof of work is obtained by solving cryptographic puzzles, and it is what allows miners to extend the blockchain with new blocks.

• Keywords: Merkleovo stablo; Merkleov put; blockchain; dokaz o radu; hash funkcija
• Keywords (english): Merkle tree; Merkle path; blockchain; proof of work; hash function
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:734659
• Study programme: Title: Physics; specializations in: Education; Course: Education; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije fizike (magistar/magistra edukacije fizike)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-03-21 10:48:56