How ​​New Blocks Get Distributed on Ethereum: A Step-by-Step Explanation

When a new block is created on the Ethereum blockchain, it is not just a matter of being added to the list of existing blocks. In fact, it requires a complex process that involves several steps and checks. Here’s a detailed explanation of how a new block gets distributed on Ethereum:

The Creation Process

A new block is created when a miner solves a complex mathematical puzzle, known as a “hash function,” using their computer’s processing power. This puzzle is designed to be difficult to solve, ensuring that only legitimate transactions can create a new block.

Once the miner has solved the puzzle and created a new block, they broadcast it to the Ethereum network via a special message called a “block hash.”

Verification Process

To ensure the integrity of the blockchain, the Ethereum network employs a validation process. This involves checking several key aspects of the new block:

• Transaction validation: The new block is verified by verifying that all transactions in the block are valid and have not been previously included in another block on the chain.

• Block headers verification: The block’s header, which includes information such as the block number, gas limit, and nonce (a unique identifier), must be correctly formatted and contain a sequence of hexadecimal numbers.

• Transaction count check: Each transaction in the block must have an increasing counter, ensuring that the transactions are not being replayed or tampered with.

• Gas limit validation

  : The total amount of gas available for the new block must be sufficient to process all transactions.

If these checks pass, the miner’s block is accepted into the Ethereum network and added to the blockchain as a separate “block” or “transaction.”

Advertising the New Block

Yes, you’re right; the newly created block does need to advertise its existence to nearby nodes. This is known as “broadcasting. Here’s how it works:

• Block headers are broadcast: Each transaction in the new block is included in a special data structure called a “block header,” which contains the information mentioned above.

• Node discovery: Nearby nodes on the Ethereum network, such as those running the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), use their built-in database or other mechanisms to discover and store copies of these block headers.

• Node verification: When a node receives a new block header, it verifies that the information matches its local copy by comparing the blocks’ hashes, transaction counts, gas limits, and other details.

If all checks pass and a node finds an exact match for the new block, they can then store a reference to the block in their database. This allows nodes to verify the authenticity of any subsequent transactions that include this block as part of their chain.

How ​​​​Nodes Verify the New Block

Once a node has received a new block header and verified its contents, it is ready to start validating subsequent blocks on the network. Here are some key steps involved in verifying the new block:

• Transaction validation: The node verifies that each transaction included in the new block is valid and follows Ethereum’s rules for adding transactions to the blockchain.

• Block headers comparison

  : The node compares its local copy of the block header with the new block header received from other nodes, ensuring that all information matches.

• Gas limit validation: The node verifies that the total amount of gas available for the next blocks in the chain is sufficient to process any transactions.

• Hash function verification: The node checks that the new block’s hash matches the expected value, ensuring that the puzzle was solved correctly.