Young ethereum - tool for analyzing the beginning of a blockchain

Lightweight tool for analyzing the beginning of the Ethereum blockchain, with focus on state tree.

Example usage

cargo run -- --blocks 10

Output

All files are written to output directory (configurable with --output-directory flag).

All files are in .json format and most field are self explanatory, but some might require explanation:

• block.X.json - headers and traces for block X
• archive.proofs.X.json - containes all partial block proofs, since genesis up until a block X
  • Partial block proof contains proofs only for accounts modified within a block
  • Each proof is given as a list of tree nodes (RLP encoded), starting from the root
• archive.tree.X.json - All tree nodes since genesis up until a block X
  • A key-value pairs, where value is RLP encoded tree node, and key is keccak256 of it
• proofs.full.block.X.json - contains proofs for all accounts since genesis up until a block X
  • Can be disabled with --disable-full-state-proof-per-block flag
• tree.block.X.json - Entire tree state at a given block
  • A key-value pairs, where value is RLP encoded tree node, and key is keccak256 of it
  • Can be disabled with --disable-full-state-proof-per-block flag

How it works

The important thing to know is that the first transaction on ethereum happened on block 46147. Until then, state changes were happened only as a result of rewards for mining (including uncle rewards).

This program does following:

1. Initializes the state based on genesis config file
   • Path to the file is configurable with --genesis-file flag
   • Default genesis file was copied from reth repo and it's for ethereum mainnet
2. For each block, starting from 0 and ending with --block flag,:
   1. Fetches the block header and trace
      • These are saved locally in block.X.json and fetching will be skipped if they are present
   2. Updates the tree state
   3. Creates partial block proof
      • Partial block proof contains proofs only for accounts modified in the current block
   4. If --disable-full-state-proof-per-block flag is not set:
      1. Exports proofs for all accounts in the state tree into proofs.full.block.X.json
      2. Exports entire state tree for current block into tree.block.X.json
3. Exports all state trees since genesis into archive.tree.X.json
4. Exports all partial block proofs since genesis into archive.proofs.X.json