Abstract: The present invention is direct a two-mode blockchain consensus protocol and a system implementing such a protocol. The system includes a plurality of node computers (and a communications network connecting the plurality of node computers. The plurality of node computers includes a first node computer, a collecting node computer, a committee of node computers, and one or more node computers that operate based on proof of work algorithms. Each node computer in the plurality includes a blockchain consensus software application running on the processor of the node computer. The blockchain consensus software application is adapted to connect to the plurality of node computers that are connected to the communications network. The blockchain consensus software application implements the two-mode blockchain consensus protocol. Through the software application, the plurality of node computers operate to reach a consensus on adding data to a public ledger.

Abstract: The present invention is directed blockchain systems and censuses protocols that adopt a pipelining technique. The systems and protocols involve a committee of consensus nodes that include proposer nodes and voter nodes. Each proposer node can send two or more unnotarized proposals to the voter nodes, and the voter nodes can vote on an unnotarized proposal when they have the same freshest notarized chain or block. A sequence number is provided to facilitate the operation of the systems and protocols. The sequence number can be used to determine the freshest notarized chain or block and the finalized chain and switch proposer node. The systems and protocols also provide other features such as chain syncer, committee election scheme, and committee reconfiguration. The systems and protocols further provide a simple finalization process and thus have a low finalization time.