Feedback control for distributed ledgers: An attack mitigation policy for DAG-based DLTs

Abstract: In this paper we present a feedback approach to the design of an attack mitigation policy for DAG-based Distributed Ledgers. We develop a model to analyse the behaviour of the ledger under the so called Tips Inflation Attack and we design a control strategy to counteract this attack strategy. The efficacy of this approach is showcased through a theoretical analysis, in the form of two theorems about the stability properties of the ledger with and without the controller, and extensive Monte Carlo simulations of an agent-based model of the distributed ledger.