Raft Algorithm

The Raft algorithm is a consensus protocol designed for manageability and clarity in crash fault-tolerant systems. It functions by electing a single leader node that is responsible for managing the replicated log and coordinating updates across the cluster.

Followers receive entries from the leader and acknowledge them, ensuring that the log remains consistent. If the leader fails, the remaining nodes hold an election to choose a new leader, allowing the system to continue operating without significant downtime.

While Raft is highly efficient and easier to reason about than many other consensus protocols, it is primarily intended for private or permissioned environments where nodes are not expected to act maliciously. In the context of financial infrastructure, Raft is often used for high-performance internal database replication or private settlement layers.

It provides strong consistency, ensuring that once a transaction is committed, it is visible to all participants. However, it does not provide the same level of security as BFT algorithms in open, public networks.

Its simplicity makes it a robust choice for systems where the threat model is limited to node crashes.