Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

That is... not how a blockchain works at all? Do explain what you mean by it requiring ALL space and ALL compute.


That is how it works, precisely. You secure the network with compute. A computer requires physical space to run a computation. Thus maximizes towards using all physical space for incentives driven by network security.

Are you telling me that there is not already physical evidence for such? I assure you there is plenty of evidence for physical space being assimilated by the incentive structures related to bitcoin and its progency.

Taken across time to a civilization that grows into further complexity, there exists a limit into how much space can be used to secure the network, and most likely even incentivizes maximizing capture of space for computational security therefore it accelerates our civilization towards creating a black hole. I couldn't come up with a better way to fast-track our way towards a cosmic environmental disaster. It's a pretty bad incentive structure long-term.

If only we could get rid of artificial scarcity.


I want specifics, what is it about the Bitcoin blockchain you think requires ever increasing storage and compute. Specifically.


Are you technically competent? Have you read the whitepaper? It’s the fundamental theory of the paper. I am not sure how I can describe it better than the whitepaper itself, which necessarily depends on its substrate which is a substratum which provides compute which necessarily implies a concrete material in physicality. Thus, physical material acts as the mechanism for computation, which Bitcoin depends on for network security, incentivized by the value of the distributed nature of the network thus requiring an ever greater need for compute.

Even in a world where computation doesn’t become more efficient it still takes up the total space available eventually due to the incentives of protecting against network failure.


Thanks for telling me that computation requires physical matter. That sure will help getting to the bottom of this. Now could you answer the question? What is it about the Bitcoin blockchain that requires EVER INCREASING compute.


Network security. What says it doesn’t? The whitepaper specifically points to computation for security. Computation is not evenly distributed and changes with time in allocation. As a generality.


Computation is not evenly distributed and changes with time in allocation. As a generality.

I will NOT grant you this. Please, give me actual technical details on WHY it requires ever increasing compute. You've said network security, what about it requires ever increasing compute.


Your stubborance or pedantry is not my concern. You have nothing to grant me. I require no grant of you. You offer me nothing, for you display nothing I lack. You already provide me with what I crave: my own self amusement; so thank you.

You can read the paper and understand the principles it is based on, which is rooted on balancing computational asymmetry amongst other concerns across a network of computers. On the most simple level, if you are aware of hashcash and sybil resistance you should be able to figure it out.

If you're still confused: then answer yourself the question why does the bitcoin algorithm adjust to computational power?


You're the stubborn one who refuses to be clear about what you're saying.

Just fucking say it, what's with the running around?

Are you unable to explain it?


I already did, if you can’t understand, then you lack a much more fundamental understanding. I recommend learning about how a computer work.


You are unable to explain it, showing a clear sign of lack of understanding.

But maybe you have links to others who are able to explain it, not the Bitcoin paper which obviously does not lead one to think network security will subsume all available matter for compute.


Network security.


You really don’t understand bitcoin. Empirically even, we know the effect of bitcoin on power consumption.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: