Techniques for expediting processing of blockchain transactions

A method of expediting blockchain transaction processing, the method operating in a computer system in communication via an electronic communication interface with a blockchain, and an endpoint system, comprising:

• providing an electronic communication interface configured to communicate with a distributed blockchain consensus network and operatively coupled to a blockchain from a distributed blockchain consensus network that includes a plurality of processing nodes operable as endpoint systems to verify transactions and achieve consensus, wherein each the plurality of processing nodes includes a copy of a distributed ledger;
• receiving, by a transaction processing platform including an electronic communication interface in communication with the blockchain, a transaction request initiated by an endpoint system, wherein the transaction request identifies a blockchain transaction including one or more transaction participants;
• obtaining, from one or more off-chain data sources, supplemental reputation information associated with the transaction participants;
• performing a risk assessment to determine a risk associated with expediting processing of the blockchain transaction, wherein the risk assessment includes a comparison of a computed risk to a predetermined risk threshold, and for the risk being less than the predetermined risk threshold, enabling expedited processing of the transaction request using the shadow copy prior to a notification from the blockchain that the blockchain transaction request is validated being received by the processor via the electronic communication interface;
• determining, based on an output of a risk assessment, if the blockchain transaction can be expedited by the transaction processing platform;
• processing the blockchain transaction using information or attributes obtained from a stored, non-transitory shadow copy of a distributed ledger of the blockchain when the blockchain transaction can be expedited by the transaction processing platform and prior to receiving a notification initiated by a distributed blockchain consensus network that the blockchain transaction is confirmed, wherein the shadow copy is locally maintained and indexed, and wherein the shadow copy is updated asynchronously from the distributed ledger and structured to support non-consensus-based evaluation of trust and risk;
• and
• upon receiving a confirmation or rejection of the blockchain transaction by the distributed blockchain consensus network, perform a reconciliation operation to update a transaction status or revert a provisional transaction outcome, wherein the reconciliation operation synchronizes a locally maintained shadow ledger with the distributed ledger to ensure blockchain consistency while maintaining reduced latency during transaction processing.

A system comprising:

• a distributed blockchain consensus network including a plurality of processing nodes operable as endpoint systems including computer readable storage media for storing program instructions and to store data on a distributed ledger, and verify transactions and achieve consensus, wherein each processing node includes a copy of a distributed ledger;
• an electronic communication interface operatively coupled to a blockchain at an endpoint system, wherein the blockchain is provided by the distributed blockchain consensus network;
• and
• a blockchain transaction service managing a shadow copy of the distributed ledger and configured to determine, based on an output of a risk assessment, whether a blockchain transaction initiated by an endpoint system can be expedited by the transaction processing platform without further confirmation of the data from the distributed blockchain consensus network, wherein the shadow copy is locally maintained, indexed, and electronically stored separately from the blockchain in one or more storage media and includes information representative of data stored on at least a portion of the distributed ledger, wherein at least a portion of the information extractable from the shadow copy includes indexed ledger information and a plurality of varying attributes of transactions or contracts, wherein the shadow copy is updated asynchronously from the distributed ledger and structured to support non-consensus-based evaluation of trust and risk;
• wherein the program instructions, when accessed from the one or more computer readable storage media and executed by an endpoint system, direct one or more processing systems to:
• process a transaction request initiated by an endpoint system, wherein the transaction request identifies a blockchain transaction including one or more transaction participants;
• obtain, from one or more off-chain data sources, supplemental reputation information associated with the transaction participants;
• perform a risk assessment to determine a risk associated with expediting processing of the blockchain transaction, wherein the risk assessment includes a comparison of a computed risk to a predetermined risk threshold, and for the risk being less than the predetermined risk threshold, enabling expedited processing of the transaction request using the shadow copy prior to a notification from the blockchain that the blockchain transaction request is validated being received by the processor via the electronic communication interface;
• determine, based on an output of the risk assessment, if the blockchain transaction can be expedited by the transaction processing platform;
• and
• process the blockchain transaction using information or attributes obtained from the shadow copy of the distributed ledger when the blockchain transaction can be expedited by the transaction processing platform and prior to receiving a notification initiated by a distributed blockchain consensus network that the blockchain transaction is confirmed;
• and
• upon receiving a confirmation or rejection of the blockchain transaction by the distributed blockchain consensus network, perform a reconciliation operation to update a transaction status or revert a provisional transaction outcome.