FIBRE is a specialized patchset on Bitcoin Core that enables a high-speed, low-latency network of nodes to relay blocks across the Bitcoin network near the speed-of-light bound in fiber. In stale block races, large mining operations have an asymmetric advantage. By combining UDP transport, Forward Error Correction (FEC), and Compact Blocks, FIBRE reduces the number of stale block races, thereby minimizing this asymmetry.
The FIBRE network has a rich history. Built as the successor to Matt Corallo’s Bitcoin Relay Network, FIBRE was developed and operated in concert with the deployment of the Compact Blocks protocol in Bitcoin Core. The network and its development has been in a stasis for almost a decade. Localhost Research is honored and excited to revitalize it. Localhost Research currently operates a public FIBRE network and encourages other industry participants to operate their own. Please read our FAQ for more information.