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Transaction pool

All nodes maintain a transaction pool to store pending transactions before processing.

Transaction pools are categorized into the following two types:

  • Layered - Recommended for public blockchain networks.
  • Sequenced - Recommended for private blockchain networks.

You can use specific options and methods to configure and monitor the transaction pool.

Layered transaction pool​

The layered transaction pool is the default transaction pool implementation. The implementation separates the pool into layers according to value and executability of the transactions. The first layer keeps only the highest-value transactions that can feasibly go into the next block. The other two layers ensure Besu always has a backlog of transactions to fill blocks, maximizing the amount of fees.

Layered pools have additional parameters that allow you to limit and configure the number of transactions in different layers, enabling them to handle high volumes and sort transactions at a faster speed.

With the layered transaction pool, Besu produces more profitable blocks more quickly, with more denial-of-service protection, and using less CPU than with the legacy transaction pool.

If you previously configured transaction pool behavior, upgrade to the layered transaction pool by:

You can opt out of the layered transaction pool implementation by setting the --tx-pool option to sequenced.

Transient invalid pending transactions​

Transient invalid pending transactions cannot be included in the current block but might be included in a future one. This can happen due to issues like insufficient balance in the sender's wallet or a gas price below the minimum. These conditions could resolve in the future.

note

Invalid pending transactions where conditions can't be resolved in the future (for example, invalid nonce) are immediately dropped from the transaction pool.

The layered transaction pool uses a scoring system to avoid repeatedly evaluating transient invalid pending transactions, which can block the evaluation of valid ones. Each pending transaction starts with a score of 127 and is penalized over time, with the score decreasing to a minimum of -128. This score determines the transaction's rank in the pool, pushing invalid transactions lower so they are evaluated only after non-penalized or less penalized ones.

The --tx-pool-min-score option, which accepts a value between -128 and 127, instructs the transaction pool to remove pending transactions when their score falls below the specified value. By default, the value is -128, meaning the pending transaction will remain in the pool with the lowest score and will only be selected after all other pending transactions have been processed.

Dropping transactions​

When the layered transaction pool is full, it accepts and retains local transactions in preference to remote transactions, unless --tx-pool-no-local-priority is enabled.

If the transaction pool is full of local transactions, Besu drops the oldest local transactions first. That is, a full transaction pool continues to accept new local transactions by first dropping remote transactions and then by dropping the oldest local transactions.

Sequenced transaction pool​

In the sequenced transaction pool, transactions are processed strictly in the order they are received. Although sequenced transaction pools lack the flexibility of layered pools, they help maintain a consistent and transparent transaction order, which is often useful in private blockchains.

You can select the sequenced transaction pool by setting --tx-pool=sequenced.

If you set the enterprise configuration profile using --profile=enterprise or --profile=private, the sequenced transaction pool is set by default.

The sequenced transaction pool suits enterprise environments because it functions like a first-in-first-out (FIFO) queue and processes transactions in the order of submission, regardless of the sender. When the pool reaches capacity, the newer transactions are evicted first, reducing the likelihood of a nonce gap and avoiding the need to resubmit older transactions.

Replacing pending transactions​

You can replace a pending transaction with a transaction that has the same sender and nonce but a higher gas price.

Legacy transactions​

If sending a legacy or ACCESS_LIST transaction, the old transaction is replaced if the new transaction has a gas price higher than the existing gas price by the percentage specified by --tx-pool-price-bump.

EIP1559 transactions​

If sending an EIP1559 transaction, the old transaction is replaced if one of the following is true:

  • The new transaction's effective gas price is higher than the existing gas price by the percentage specified by --tx-pool-price-bump AND the new effective priority fee is greater than or equal to the existing priority fee.

  • The new transaction's effective gas price is equal to the existing gas price AND the new effective priority fee is higher than the existing priority fee by the percentage specified by --tx-pool-price-bump.

BLOB transactions​

If sending a BLOB transaction, the old transaction is replaced if BOTH of the following are true:

  • The new transaction's gas price is higher than the existing gas price by the percentage specified by --tx-pool-price-bump.

  • The new transaction's maximum fee per blob gas is higher than the existing maximum fee per blob gas by the percentage specified by --tx-pool-blob-price-bump.

Free gas networks​

In free gas networks, the transaction pool price bump is 0 by default, so replacement transactions can use the same gas price as the pending transaction.

If zeroBaseFee is not set, you can set --tx-pool-price-bump to require a higher gas price when replacing transactions that use a nonzero gas price.