Abstract: A method for secure chain division of a satellite chain by a validator node of a permission-based blockchain system includes executing, by communicating with a set of validator nodes of an original satellite chain of the blockchain system, a validator assignment scheme that splits the set of validator nodes of the original satellite chain into subsets of validator nodes of child chains of the original satellite chain, and running, by communicating with the validator nodes of the respective subsets, a reconfiguration protocol to set up the respective child chains and sending, to an identity management component that maintains identity information of all members of the blockchain system in a registry, a configuration update to record the division of the original satellite chain and corresponding creation of the child chains.