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> Bitcoin finality is probabilistic, like nearly everything in cryptography. Yes, Bitcoin finality is probabilistic, and practically good enough after half a d
by FabHK 1y ago
> Bitcoin finality is probabilistic, like nearly everything in cryptography.
Yes, Bitcoin finality is probabilistic, and practically good enough after half a day or so (though 20 blocks were rolled back on at least 2 occasions).
However, many things in cryptography are not probabilistic. And in BFT-type consensus, every block is immediately final; the question of finality doesn't even arise (which is why the concept only gained prominence with Nakamoto consensus).
Regarding forks, there was BCH, BSV, etc. - those were not programming errors.
- olalonde 1y ago> though 20 blocks were rolled back on at least 2 occasions Do you mean because of the bugs mentioned earlier or during the normal course of operations? Curious to read more about that. > Regarding forks, there was BCH, BSV, etc. - those were not programming errors. That's a different kind of "fork" though and those are arguably not Bitcoin. They're basically just competing cryptocurrencies that happened to use an existing blockchain to get started.
- nivertech 1y ago> those are arguably not Bitcoin Q.E.D. You proved it’s a social consensus
- olalonde 1y agoNaming things is, indeed. The protocol is not.
- freejazz 1y agoIncredibly pedantic, no less when this whole thing started with "seems like someone missed the boat"
- olalonde 1y agoWhat's incredibly pedantic is insisting that Bitcoin is based on "social consensus." That’s only true in the most superficial or tautological sense - like saying anything people agree to use is based on "social consensus". It doesn't explain at all how the Bitcoin protocol actually achieves consensus (proof of work).
- freejazz 1y agoCalling it social consensus isn't an attempt to describe how the protocol works because you are talking about two different things. The consensus on which protocol to use, and the workings of the protocol itself. You're response to me was to just verbatim repeat yourself while putting "no" in front of what I said. Incredibly pedantic discussion.
- andirk 1y agoThrough a lot of people agreeing on a standard.
- FabHK 1y agoConsensus is achieved through the longest chain rule. Sybil resistance is achieved through PoW.
- FabHK 1y ago> Do you mean because of the bugs mentioned earlier or during the normal course of operations? Curious to read more about that. One occasion was the 184 bn Bitcoin bug, the other was an unintentional fork due to a faulty software upgrade.