Design principle DP1: Balance decentralization, scalability and security
Principle of balancing the blockchain trilemma with a public Layer 1 as a trust anchor, a Layer 2 for scalability, and decentralized communication between layers.
Aim, implementer, and user: For developers and researchers of blockchain-based solutions (implementers), addressing business use cases such as procurement (users), aiming to leverage their solution by achieving a sustainable balance between scalability, security, and decentralization (aim).
Context: In inter-organizational settings with trust, discontinuity, and inefficiency challenges.
Mechanism 1.1: Build the design on a public permissionless Layer 1 blockchain, complemented by a Layer 2 protocol. Rationale: because it improves scalability while maintaining decentralization and security of the blockchain-based information system.
Mechanism 1.2: Ensure that the Layer 2 design integrates a decentralized communication infrastructure. Rationale: because it ensures decentralization across layers, instead of shifting centralization risks from the base Layer 1 to the scaling Layer 2, thereby retaining the security guarantees of Layer 1.
Source paper
This design principle is proposed by Designing a blockchain-based information system for procurement processes - Balancing decentralization, scalability, and security while maintaining privacy (Valeriya Arnold, Tobias Guggenberger, Jan Stramm, Nils Urbach, 2026).
Addresses
- Design objective DO1: Publicly accessible, interoperable blockchain infrastructure
- Design objective DO2: Stable, regulation-compliant payment processing
- Design objective DO3: Strengthen dispute-resolution trust via permissionless blockchain
- Design objective DO4: Infrastructure that scales with volume and users