Systems and methods for deterministic ordering and enforcing intra-block fairness in distributed ledger implementations

1 . A method for deterministic ordering and enforcing intra-block fairness in distributed ledger implementations, comprising:

receiving, at a plurality of hardware security modules each at one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed ledger network, arbitrary ordering logic based on a definition of fairness agreed to by the plurality of nodes, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic comprises a plurality of levels, wherein the each level of the plurality of levels is configured to be sequentially applied to break an ordering tie thereby determining an order to execute a plurality of transactions, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic includes a restriction on a number of transactions within a time period, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic includes a level of the plurality of levels where a plurality of parties bid on a slot and one party of the plurality of parties is compensated by a winning bid;

receiving, by one hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules and from the plurality of nodes, the plurality of transactions for execution;

ordering, by the one hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules, the plurality of transactions based on the plurality of levels of the arbitrary ordering logic and the number of transactions, wherein each hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules independently arrives at an output ordering;

identifying, by the one hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules, a pathological node of the plurality of nodes based on a divergent ordering differing from the output ordering, wherein the identifying is based on a threshold of divergence over a plurality of blocks, and the pathological node is excluded from consensus for a defined period; and

outputting, by the hardware security module, the plurality of transactions as an ordered set of transactions;

wherein a consensus algorithm executed by the distributed ledger network commits the ordered set of transactions to the distributed ledger as a block.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the arbitrary ordering logic is based on an attribute of a counterparty to the transaction.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the arbitrary ordering logic specifies a restriction on a value of transactions in the time period.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hardware security module further outputs a checksum or hash of the arbitrary ordering logic, and the checksum or hash is written with the set of ordered transactions in the block.

5 . A system, comprising:

a distributed ledger network comprising a plurality of hardware security modules each at one of a plurality of nodes, wherein each node comprises a hardware security module comprising arbitrary ordering logic based on a definition of fairness agreed to by the plurality of nodes, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic comprises a plurality of levels, wherein the each level of the plurality of levels is configured to be sequentially applied to break an ordering tie thereby determining an order to execute a plurality of transactions, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic includes a restriction on a number of transactions within a time period, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic includes a level of the plurality of levels where a plurality of parties bid on a slot and one party of the plurality of parties is compensated by a winning bid; and

a consensus algorithm executed by the plurality of nodes;

wherein:

one of the hardware security modules of the plurality of hardware security modules receives from the plurality of nodes, the plurality of transactions for execution;

the one of the hardware security modules orders the plurality of transactions based on the plurality of levels of the arbitrary ordering logic and the number of transactions, wherein each hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules independently arrives at an output ordering;

the one of the hardware security modules outputs the plurality of transactions as an ordered set of transactions;

a second hardware security module produces a divergent ordering;

the plurality of nodes reach consensus for the ordered set of transactions using the consensus algorithm;

the plurality of nodes identifies a pathological node of the plurality of nodes based on the divergent ordering differing from the ordered set of transactions, wherein the identifying is based on a threshold of divergence over a plurality of blocks, and the pathological node is excluded from consensus for a defined period; and

the consensus algorithm writes the ordered set of transactions as a block to the distributed ledger network.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the arbitrary ordering logic is based on an attribute of a counterparty to the transaction.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the arbitrary ordering logic specifies a restriction on a value of transactions in the time period.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the hardware security module further outputs a checksum or hash of the arbitrary ordering logic, and the checksum or hash is written with the set of ordered transactions in the block.

9 . A hardware security module at one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed ledger network, comprising:

a computer processor; and

a memory storing a computer program;

wherein, when executed by the computer processor, the computer program:

receives arbitrary ordering logic based on a definition of fairness agreed to by the plurality of nodes, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic comprises a plurality of levels, wherein the each level of the plurality of levels is configured to be sequentially applied to break an ordering tie thereby determining an order to execute a plurality of transactions, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic includes a restriction on a number of transactions within a time period, wherein the arbitrary ordering logic includes a level of the plurality of levels where a plurality of parties bid on a slot and one party of the plurality of parties is compensated by a winning bid;

receives, by one hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules and from the plurality of nodes, the plurality of transactions for execution;

orders, by the one hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules, the plurality of transactions based on the plurality of levels of the arbitrary ordering logic and the number of transactions, wherein each hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules independently arrives at an output ordering;

identifies, by the one hardware security module of the plurality of hardware security modules, a pathological node of the plurality of nodes based on a divergent ordering differing from the output ordering, wherein the identifying is based on a threshold of divergence over a plurality of blocks, and the pathological node is excluded from consensus for a defined period; and

outputs the plurality of transactions as an ordered set of transactions;

wherein a consensus algorithm executed by the distributed ledger network commits the ordered set of transactions to the distributed ledger as a block.

10 . The hardware security module of claim 9 , wherein the arbitrary ordering logic is based on an attribute of a counterparty to the transaction.

11 . The hardware security module of claim 9 , wherein the arbitrary ordering logic specifies a restriction on a value of transactions in the time period.

12 . The hardware security module of claim 9 , wherein the computer program outputs a checksum or hash of the arbitrary ordering logic, and the checksum or hash is written with the set of ordered transactions in the block.