Algorand has been quietly running peer‑to‑peer (P2P) networking for months. P2P lets Algorand nodes find and connect to permissionless Repeaters on a global mesh. This adds more independent routes for data, strengthens decentralization, and makes the network more resilient to failures and censorship. P2P is now also available in NodeKit and FUNC.
What is P2P?
Algorand's network has traditionally relied on a backbone of permissioned Repeaters (previously called "Relays") to efficiently distribute data across the network. With the introduction of P2P, anyone can now set up a Repeater ("permissionless"), and Validators can connect to any of those Repeaters through a P2P mesh. Information can now travel across many paths using a modern gossip protocol. The design removes the reliance on any permissioned element and keeps the network running smoothly even when parts of the internet are slow or unavailable.
Why P2P matters
P2P creates a decentralized network structure that enhances the resilience and security of the blockchain:
- Decentralization: More community‑run Repeaters mean more independent paths for blocks and transactions, less reliance on a single backbone, and a healthier network overall.
- Security and resilience: Multiple routes make it more difficult to implement censorship and targeted slowdowns. If one route is impaired, messages can take another route. Under a heavy load, the mesh spreads traffic instead of funneling it through a small set of machines.
How P2P works at a glance
Up until now, Algorand operated only within a more traditional network architecture whereby regular nodes connected to a fixed set of permissioned Repeaters that handled message distribution. This created a hierarchy: clients depended on specific servers, and if those servers failed or became congested, the connected nodes lost their pathway to the network. It was like having a few major post offices that all mail must pass through first - efficient when working well, but vulnerable to bottlenecks and single points of failure.
P2P networking, however, adds a mesh layer alongside this existing infrastructure. On Algorand, nodes can now maintain connections to both the established relay backbone and to community-run Repeaters that they discover dynamically. When a node receives a new transaction or block, it propagates through both the traditional network and the diverse P2P mesh channels, creating redundant paths for the flow of data.
This hybrid approach (recommended for most operators) combines the stability of trusted permissioned Repeaters with the resilience and decentralization benefits of permissionless Repeaters. If parts of either system slow down or become unavailable, messages still flow through alternative routes, making the overall network more robust.
Connecting with P2P
P2P is available today and ships in NodeKit and FUNC, making it easier for teams to access. Nodes can connect in three simple modes:
- Off: Connects only to permissioned Repeaters.
- Hybrid: Connects to both permissioned and permissionless Repeaters (recommended for most operators).
- On: Connects only through permissionless Repeaters.
Node types
Below are the P2P node types:
- A Repeater is a high-bandwidth node that propagates blocks and transactions.
- A Validator runs consensus and validates blocks.
- An Archiver stores the full ledger history and, on P2P, can advertise block and catchpoint serving so peers can fast‑sync.
- An API provider exposes the live ledger to applications through the algod API so they can read state, simulate, and submit transactions.
Learn more about P2P
For more information about P2P, read "Algorand goes peer‑to‑peer: A new era for the network" and watch the short P2P animation.
If you run nodes, see the Developer Portal, NodeKit and FUNC release notes.
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