A method for addition of a block to a permissioned blockchain using efficient consensus includes: generating a Merkle root for received transaction messages and hashing the header of the most recent block in a blockchain; hashing a new header consisting of the Merkle root and prior block hash; sending the new header to auditing nodes; receiving approval of the new header from a majority of auditing nodes; informing the auditing nodes of the approval of the new header; and providing the new header and a digital signature to each consensus node for writing of a new block to the blockchain that includes the new header and the received transaction messages.