🌍 Real-World PBFT: Hyperledger Fabric & More

See how enterprise blockchains use PBFT for fast finality

🌍 PBFT in Production

PBFT and its variants power many production blockchain systems, from enterprise networks handling billions in transactions to public chains serving millions of users. Let's explore real-world implementations.

🔍 Interactive: Platform Explorer

Explore how different platforms implement PBFT:

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Hyperledger Fabric

Enterprise Blockchain

Consensus

PBFT (via ordering service)

Block Time

~1 second

Throughput

3,500+ TPS

Key Features

Permissioned network

Private channels

Smart contracts (chaincode)

Modular consensus

Use Cases

Supply chainTrade financeHealthcare records

Notable Users

IBMWalmartMaersk

PBFT vs Other Consensus

FeaturePBFTPoWPoS
FinalityInstantProbabilisticNear-instant
ThroughputHigh (1000+ TPS)Low (~7 TPS)Medium (~30 TPS)
Energy UseVery LowVery HighLow
Node TypePermissionedPermissionlessPermissionless
Fault ToleranceByzantine (< 33%)Byzantine (< 50%)Byzantine (< 33%)
Best ForEnterprise, known nodesPublic, high securityPublic, efficiency

When to Use PBFT

Ideal Scenarios

  • • Known, vetted validator set
  • • Need instant finality
  • • High throughput required
  • • Enterprise or consortium networks
  • • Low latency critical
  • • Regulatory compliance needed
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Not Recommended For

  • • Fully public networks
  • • Anonymous participants
  • • Very large validator sets (100+)
  • • High node churn
  • • Completely trustless environment
  • • Maximum decentralization needed
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Enterprise Success Story

Walmart uses Hyperledger Fabric (PBFT-based) to track food supply chains. In 2018, they reduced the time to trace mangoes from farm to store from 7 days to 2.2 seconds. The system now tracks over 25 product lines across 5 suppliers, processing thousands of transactions per day with instant finality.