Compact Block Relay Protocols

Compact Block Relay Protocols are technical methods used to minimize the amount of data required to transmit a block across a network. Instead of sending the entire block, which includes all transaction data, these protocols send a compact version containing only the transaction hashes or references.

Nodes that already possess the transactions in their local mempool can then reconstruct the full block locally. This significantly reduces the bandwidth requirements for block propagation, allowing for faster network-wide synchronization and smaller block intervals.

These protocols are essential for scaling blockchain throughput and reducing the impact of network latency on consensus. By decreasing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted, they enable more nodes to participate in the network, even those with limited bandwidth, thereby supporting greater decentralization and overall network performance.