Edit transactions for blockchains
The disclosed technology is generally directed to blockchain technology. In one example of the technology, a modified block is provided in response to at least an edit transaction that indicates a transaction in an original block in a blockchain. The modified block includes: transactions of the original block except the indicated transaction, a hash of the indicated transaction, and a header that includes a link to a hash of a block that precedes the original block. A new block is provided. The new block includes a reference associated with the edit transaction, and that the reference may include a link to the modified block. The original block may be caused to be deleted.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a device including at least one memory adapted to store run-time data for the device, and at least one processor that is adapted to execute processor-executable code that, in response to execution, enables the device to perform actions, including:
in response to at least an edit transaction that indicates a transaction in an original block in a blockchain:
providing a modified block that includes: transactions of the original block except the indicated transaction, a hash of the indicated transaction, and a header that includes a link to a hash of a block that precedes the original block;
providing a new block that includes a reference to the edit transaction, the reference including a link to the modified block; and
causing the original block to be deleted.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the modified block further includes a merkle root of the original block.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the actions further including verifying the edit transaction, including verifying that an associated governance system agrees to the edit transaction.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the edit transaction indicates the indicated transaction by listing a hash of the transaction to be edited in a body of the edit transaction.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the modified block includes an exact copy of the original block except for the portion of the original block edited by the edit transaction.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the new block includes a header, and wherein the reference further includes a hash of the header of the modified block and a hash of the header of the new block.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the modified block includes the header of the original block, including the hash of the original block and the merkle root of the original block.
8. A method, comprising:
in response to at least an edit transaction, wherein a first block precedes a second block on a blockchain, and wherein the edit transaction indicates a transaction in the second block:
creating a modified version of the second block that includes: transactions of the second block except the indicated transaction, a hash of the indicated transaction, and a header that includes a link to a hash of the first block;
creating a third block that includes a reference to the edit transaction, the reference including a link to the modified version of the second block; and
causing the second block to be deleted.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the modified version of the second block further includes a merkle root of the second block.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising verifying the edit transaction, including verifying that an associated governance system agrees to the edit transaction.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the edit transaction indicates a transaction for editing by listing a hash of the transaction to be edited in a body of the edit transaction.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the modified version of the second block includes an exact copy of the second block except for the portion of the second block edited by the edit transaction.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the third block includes a standard header, and wherein the reference further includes a hash of the standard header of the modified version of the second block and a hash of the standard header of the third block.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the modified version of the second block includes the header of the second block, including the hash of the second block and the merkle root of the second block.
15. A processor-readable storage medium, having stored thereon process-executable code that, upon execution by at least one processor, enables actions, comprising:
in response to at least an edit transaction that indicates a transaction in an original block in a blockchain:
generating a modified block that includes: transactions of the original block except the indicated transaction, a hash of the indicated transaction, and a header that includes a link to a hash of a block that precedes the original block; and
generating a new block that includes a reference to the edit transaction, the reference including a link to the modified block.
16. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the modified block further includes a merkle root of the original block.
17. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the actions further comprising verifying the edit transaction, including verifying that an associated governance system agrees to the edit transaction.
18. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the modified block includes an exact copy of the original block except for the portion of the original block edited by the edit transaction.
19. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the new block includes a standard header, and wherein the reference further includes a hash of the standard header of the modified block and a hash of the standard header of the new block.
20. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the modified block includes the header of the original block, including the hash of the original block and the merkle root of the original block.