Re:Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
by um_ya on Saturday June 03, 2017 @02:35PM
(#14477731)
If these malicious miners you speak of "change the rules", it creates a fork in the blockchain. Even if they have a majority hash rate, if the economy does not support their decision, the market value of that forked chain will be low while the unchanged fork will keep the market. A group of malicious miners can do very little to destroy bitcoin.
Re:Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
by drdeca on Sunday June 04, 2017 @01:21AM
(#14480013)
Depends on the sort of change, doesn't it?
Isn't that the soft-fork / hard-fork distinction?
It is true that miners in general cannot use their hashpower to force a hard-fork, but they can, I think, cause a soft-fork.
And, soft-forks can do a lot of stuff.
Re:Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
by SomeStupidPoint on Saturday June 03, 2017 @02:37PM
(#14477736)
In what way does the same logic not apply to banks?
Re:Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
by bluesteel44 on Saturday June 03, 2017 @04:28PM
(#14478317)
Banks can position themselves to benefit from a depreciation of any given currency, miners are tied to the success of the one they've chosen.
Re:Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
by SomeStupidPoint on Saturday June 03, 2017 @05:13PM
(#14478534)
Can a miner not distribute their effort and holdings?
Re:Crypto Tokens: A Breakthrough in Open Network Design
by Obi_Juan_Kenobi on Saturday June 03, 2017 @08:04PM
(#14479184)
Miner hardware is tied to the specific proof-of-work algorithm used in the cryptocurrency they mine. They make extensive capital investments that are, at least in the case of Bitcoin, useless for any other purpose.
Similarly, if any one bank doesn't follow the rules, they get kicked out of the financial network, to similar effect. You don't have to trust a bank, you trust the banking (and legal) system.