public inbox for bitcoindev@googlegroups.com
 help / color / mirror / Atom feed
From: Karl <gmkarl@gmail.com>
To: Billy Tetrud <billy.tetrud@gmail.com>
Cc: Bitcoin Protocol Discussion <bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org>
Subject: Re: [bitcoin-dev] Reducing block reward via soft fork
Date: Mon, 24 May 2021 20:55:34 -0400	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <CALL-=e5BKBBkw3EkeYhHgzvEBuRdOOS1QnXpwh5qF1J6TEK3Hw@mail.gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <CAGpPWDYJHP1WsJA9Rymb3GwMomCipVV7UV_eSVb_g-DbBkw32w@mail.gmail.com>

If bitcoin were to ever consider changing their PoW algorithm a
little, it seems that would immediately make purchased ASIC mining
equipment partially or wholly unusable to compromise the chain (and
temporarily reduce energy usage without necessarily reducing
security).  One possible plan to deter a multibillionaire attack.

Also regarding the word "security" here, a 51% attack impacts some
parts of chain operations, but not others.

It seems to me bitcoin's biggest vulnerabilities are either covert
compromise of mining pool operations, or widespread compromise of
networked mining systems and client nodes.  Far easier than
outcompeting the mining network with hardware.

I don't see why it would necessarily be made public if a government
compromised their nation's mining farms.  Governments have skilled
operatives for things like that.  People would guess it happened, and
the government would cover up the guesses with more powerful stories.


  parent reply	other threads:[~2021-05-25  0:55 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 15+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
2021-05-23  1:00 [bitcoin-dev] Reducing block reward via soft fork James Lu
2021-05-23 10:42 ` Anton Ragin
     [not found]   ` <CANQHGB2pD57cZzcuTqr25Pg-Bvon_=G=_5901to2esrcumk-GA@mail.gmail.com>
2021-05-23 14:40     ` [bitcoin-dev] Fwd: " James Lu
2021-05-23 11:26 ` [bitcoin-dev] " ZmnSCPxj
2021-05-23 12:08   ` Karl
2021-05-23 13:35     ` ZmnSCPxj
2021-05-23 19:44       ` Karl
2021-05-24 20:28         ` Billy Tetrud
2021-05-24 21:55           ` Erik Aronesty
2021-05-25  0:55           ` Karl [this message]
2021-05-25  8:01             ` Billy Tetrud
2021-05-25  8:35           ` Jorge Timón
2021-05-25  8:53           ` Melvin Carvalho
2021-05-25 19:40             ` Billy Tetrud
2021-05-24 22:03 ` Phuoc Do

Reply instructions:

You may reply publicly to this message via plain-text email
using any one of the following methods:

* Save the following mbox file, import it into your mail client,
  and reply-to-all from there: mbox

  Avoid top-posting and favor interleaved quoting:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style#Interleaved_style

* Reply using the --to, --cc, and --in-reply-to
  switches of git-send-email(1):

  git send-email \
    --in-reply-to='CALL-=e5BKBBkw3EkeYhHgzvEBuRdOOS1QnXpwh5qF1J6TEK3Hw@mail.gmail.com' \
    --to=gmkarl@gmail.com \
    --cc=billy.tetrud@gmail.com \
    --cc=bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org \
    /path/to/YOUR_REPLY

  https://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-send-email.html

* If your mail client supports setting the In-Reply-To header
  via mailto: links, try the mailto: link
Be sure your reply has a Subject: header at the top and a blank line before the message body.
This is a public inbox, see mirroring instructions
for how to clone and mirror all data and code used for this inbox