{"id":367750,"date":"2019-01-09T22:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T22:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniquehot.com\/?p=367750"},"modified":"2024-06-11T07:32:36","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T07:32:36","slug":"veriblock-help-bitcoin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniquehot.com\/news\/veriblock-help-bitcoin\/","title":{"rendered":"Are VeriBlock Transactions on the Bitcoin Network Helping or Harming BTC?"},"content":{"rendered":"
According to reports from Bitcoin<\/a>\u00a0(BTC) developers, a startling amount of block space is being wasted on the Bitcoin network to secure the blockchains of other cryptos. A company called VeriBlock has been “borrowing” the hashing power of the Bitcoin network to increase security on vulnerable altcoin chains and filling up BTC block space in the process.<\/p>\n VeriBlock works on a process known of “proof-of-proof” whereby the latter “proof” is arrived at using the hash power of the Bitcoin network. According to Forbes<\/a>, perhaps the most notable contributor to the VeriBlock project is former Bitcoin Core developer Jeff Garzik<\/a>.<\/p>\n As was highlighted just this week<\/a> by the\u00a0Ethereum Classic<\/a> (ETC) debacle, the risk of 51% attack on altcoins is far greater than it is on the BTC network. This is because there is much less hashing power securing these smaller networks. With less computing power enforcing them, attackers need to command far less computing power themselves to subvert the network’s rules.<\/p>\n A 51% attack allows those behind it to wreak havoc with a cryptocurrency and enrich themselves. This can involve double spending units of the currency – essentially creating money for nothing for the attacker.<\/p>\n To help altcoins with their failing security requirements, a startup called VeriBlock has devised a way to use Bitcoin’s immense hash power to help secure the blockchains of smaller projects. This involves the use of OP_Return transactions added to the Bitcoin blockchain.<\/p>\n VeriBlock is not even fully live on the main net yet but already it is already having an impact on the Bitcoin network. Chief Technology Officer of CasaHODL and long-time Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp highlighted a few days ago that the startup was currently responsible for 20% of all transactions on the network:<\/p>\n Source of the now-highest volume of OP_RETURN outputs has been identified as @VeriBlock<\/a> "proof of proof" miners. They are creating around 20% of all BTC transactions now. Seems inefficient to me; will be interesting to see if the incentives work long term. https:\/\/t.co\/LpjyhGKg2b<\/a><\/p>\n — Jameson Lopp (@lopp) January 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nOnly a Matter of Time Before VeriBlock’s Impact on Bitcoin Fees is No Longer Trivial<\/h2>\n
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