Epicenter – Podcast on Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies

As blockchain technologies mature, new protocol specifications are emerging, which take unique approaches to software design and how consensus is achieved. We have talked about Multchain and OpenChain in the past, but Tendermint promises to be a viable solution for many permissioned blockchain use cases. It’s design is modular, meaning that the application layer (smart … Continued

Support the show, consider donating: 15zDNoYpwY5MF76vZxGyKJ7ppdSBrNUotP (http://bit.ly/1Pt2zpa) As blockchain technologies mature, new protocol specifications are emerging, which take unique approaches to software design and how consensus is achieved. We have talked about Multchain and OpenChain in the past, but Tendermint promises to be a viable solution for many permissioned blockchain use cases. It’s design is modular, meaning that the application layer (smart contract) and the consensus layer are completely independent. This provides added flexibility and allows for business logic to be written in practically any programming language. In addition, its unique approach to consensus, a round-robin Proof-of-Skate algorithm, is much better suited for permissioned blockchain scenarios than Proof-of-Work. Meher and Sebastien talk to Tendermint co-founders, Jae Kwon, Dustin Byington and Ethan Buchman, about this promising new blockchain protocol and how it is different from other projects we’ve seen so far. Topics covered in this episode include: - How Tendermint came to be and how it has evolved since its creation - Smart contract programming and the Tendermint Socket Protocol (TMSP) - How Tendermint makes use of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) - Tendermint’s approach to PoS consensus and its scalability benefits - Use case for permissioned and public blockchains - Future plans and business models Links mentioned in this episode: - Tendermint: http://tendermint.com/ - Tendermint for fast settlements: http://tendermint.com/posts/tendermint-for-fast-settlement/ - Tendermint vs PBFT: http://tendermint.com/posts/tendermint-vs-pbft/ - Tendermint specification: https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/wiki Sponsors: - Ledger Nano: Smart card security for your Bitcoins - Get 10% off your first order when you use the code EPICENTER at http://ledgerwallet.com Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/113 YouTube: https://youtu.be/EfFVh1DIKds Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy. - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

Support the show, consider donating: 1EqgzpehmNYtqMComGDjeEiqn15Wq2rA9Z (http://bit.ly/1MrXWFB) Permissionable blockchains have gained much attention from enterprise this past year, and specifically, the traditional fiance and FinTech sectors. As new protocols emerge and the technology is matures, it is becoming apparent they are simply a new class of database, one which integrates business logic (smart contracts) and a consensus layer (PoS, PoW, etc). Casey Kuhlman is the CEO of Eris Industries, a company which specialises in building permissioned blockchain systems for enterprise. Their aim is to deliver the technologies which enable companies to easily build and deploy applications which make use of blockchain and smart contract technologies. Topics we discussed include: - Casey’s impressive background as an engineer, Marine soldier, lawyer and startup founder - Eris Industries and what the company is trying to achieve - Permissionable blockchains and their usefulness in industrial applications - Smart contracts, how to explain them and legal status - How blockchains can be used to revolutionize the way organizations construct business processes - The idea of Blockchains-as-a-Service - The various use cases for blockchain technologies Links mentioned in this episode: - Eris Industries: https://erisindustries.com/ - 2Gather: https://github.com/eris-ltd/2gather Sponsors: - Hide.me: Protect your privacy and personal data with a free VPN account at Hide.me/epicenter Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/112 YouTube: https://youtu.be/DFASeUsR2dU Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy. - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

Permissionable blockchains have gained much attention from enterprise this past year, and specifically, the traditional fiance and FinTech sectors. As new protocols emerge and the technology is matures, it is becoming apparent they are simply a new class of database, one which integrates business logic (smart contracts) and a consensus layer (PoS, PoW, etc). is … Continued

Andrew Miller is a computer science PhD student at the University of Maryland who focuses on cryptocurrency. Having gotten involved in Bitcoin in 2011 and focused on cryptocurrencies early in his research work, he is one of the most prolific researchers in the field. Our discussion mainly focused on security aspects of Ethereum including their … Continued

Support the show, consider donating: 1B34HoDMhmbW4UbQw3hNxeYired6xjYp9Z (http://bit.ly/1MrXG9v) Andrew Miller is a computer science PhD student at the University of Maryland who focuses on cryptocurrency. Having gotten involved in Bitcoin in 2011 and focused on cryptocurrencies early in his research work, he is one of the most prolific researchers in the field. Our discussion mainly focused on security aspects of Ethereum including their gas model, Proof-of-Work algorithm and plans to switch to Proof-of-Stake. Topics covered included: - How he got involved in doing research on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies - The blossoming of academic interest in the topic - His work on analyzing Ethereum's gas model - Potential vulnerabilities of the Gas model - Ethereum's PoW algorithm - How Ethereum handles the block size limit Links mentioned in this episode: - Andrew's University Website http://bit.ly/1R399m7 - Ethereum Analysis: Gas Economics and Proof of Work Overview http://bit.ly/1NKDwvo - Ethereum Analysis: Gas Economics http://bit.ly/1YI4ewY - Ledger Journal http://bit.ly/1TmsVsf - Hawk: Privacy-Preserving Smart Contracts http://bit.ly/1YI56BU Sponsors: - Ledger Nano: Smart card security for your Bitcoins - Get 10% off your first order when you use the code EPICENTER at http://ledgerwallet.com Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/111 YouTube: https://youtu.be/91UekwMAXJs Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy. - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

With over 600,000 views, James D’Angelo’s educational videos at the World Bitcoin Network are among the most popular resources on Bitcoin. Besides his excellent technical explanation, he has also been vocal about the dangers of the increasing centralization of mining. James joined us to talk about his background as a rapper, the World Bitcoin Network, … Continued

Support the show, consider donating: 19Q8RvqVNDax3HWC9ujaHN4u7xRv8TYmju (http://bit.ly/1QpeIer) With over 600,000 views, James D'Angelo's educational videos at the World Bitcoin Network are among the most popular resources on Bitcoin. Besides his excellent technical explanation, he has also been vocal about the dangers of the increasing centralization of mining. James joined us to talk about his background as a rapper, the World Bitcoin Network, his proposal to use the Bitcoin blockchain to fight climate change and his argument that keeping Bitcoin decentralized would require sacrificing the anonymity of miners. Topics covered included: - How he first learned about Bitcoin and started the World Bitcoin Network - His proposals on identity and climate change - The crucial mistake Satoshi made in designing Bitcoin - Why none of the current ideas can solve the underlying problem of the centralization of mining power - Why decentralization should be the only design criterion for Bitcoin - His Axiom: That anonymity and decentralization of miners are inversely correlated - How Identity-based Mining could foster decentralization Links mentioned in this episode: - World Bitcoin Network YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/1PjvRGG - Article about his Sno-Caps proposal to use Bitcoin to fight climate change http://bit.ly/1kcnD6c - Sno-Caps Whitepaper http://bit.ly/1Zl7mMb - Bitcoin Nodes and Noses: http://bit.ly/1UVVXjw - A new mystery about Satoshi hidden in the Bitcoin block-chain http://bit.ly/1Pg1Ohd - 'Typical American' from James D'Angelo earlier rap band The Goats http://bit.ly/1OG3qhv - James D'Angelo's talk 'What is the Bitcoin Revolution?' http://bit.ly/1Mr6FI1 - Bitcoin in Uganda video with James http://bit.ly/1QBxLUQ Sponsors: - Shapeshift: Buy and sell alt coins instantly at http://ShapeShift.io - Hide.me: Protect your privacy and personal data with a free VPN account at Hide.me/epicenter Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/110 YouTube: https://youtu.be/_RC8wEL2r9s Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

Identity is probably one of the most important constructs in our society. In our modern world, protecting one’s identity has become complex, as we no longer rely solely on governments to prove who we are. In addition, most identity sources can be easily compromised. Credit cards and social security numbers weren’t developed with the Internet … Continued

Support the show, consider donating: 13tRXdy2Ke9gwr5We8XWnz8J5HWG6kLknU (http://bit.ly/1ISp0h0) Identity is probably one of the most important constructs in our society. In our modern world, protecting one’s identity has become complex, as we no longer rely solely on governments to prove who we are. In addition, most identity sources can be easily compromised. Credit cards and social security numbers weren’t developed with the Internet in mind, and other identifiers such as logins and passwords aren’t well suited truly secure authentication and authorisation. We’re joined by Tim Pastoor, Founder of 2way.io, to discuss how we can improve control of our identities using concepts borrowed from Bitcoin. Tim walks us through how people could better manage different identities and build reputation networks using Identifi, a global address book protocol invented by Martti Malmi, one of the very first Bitcoin users. We also talk what role this system could play in the future as autonomous agents and artificial intelligence become more prevalent. Topics we discussed include : - The history of identity systems and how traditional identity systems are broken - How the invention of Blockchain technologies changed the way we think of identity - The Identifi protocol and how it works - How we can build reputation through Webs of Trust (WoT) - The future of identity and how Identifi could provide ID for IoT, robots, autonomous agents and artificial intelligence - 2Way.io and what the company is trying to achieve Links mentioned in this episode: - 2Way: http://2way.io/ - Identifi protocol: http://identifi.org/ - Identifi service: http://identi.fi/ Sponsors: - Ledger Nano: Smart card security for your Bitcoins - Get 10% off your first order when you use the code EPICENTER at http://ledgerwallet.com Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/109 YouTube: https://youtu.be/C9lcTV599p4 Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy. - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

The Bitcoin and blockchain industry has been through a lot this year. While the Bitcoin price has experienced relative stability, perhaps indicating slow growth, the space has grown into a rich and diverse ecosystem of startups and open technologies. Through inspiring proof-of-concepts and exciting use cases, blockchain technologies have gained legitimacy as a viable technology … Continued

Support the show, consider donating: 18SrPUgVAEMRL171T2VQPyzNJ34xkDdoQU (http://bit.ly/1l5m5wl) The Bitcoin and blockchain industry has been through a lot this year. While the Bitcoin price has experienced relative stability, perhaps indicating slow growth, the space has grown into a rich and diverse ecosystem of startups and open technologies. Through inspiring proof-of-concepts and exciting use cases, blockchain technologies have gained legitimacy as a viable technology to improve transparency, reduce costs and optimise processes, to name a few of it’s benefits. In this episode, all three Epicenter Bitcoin hosts, Brian, Sebastien and Meher, come together to look back on the events which marked the space this past year, and speculate on where thing may be heading in the future. Among the topics discussed in this episode: - Shift in focus from Bitcoin to blockchain technologies - Public vs. private blockchain debate - Bitcoin blocksize debate - Media censorship and r/Bitcoin dictatorship - Ethereum and it’s flourishing ecosystem - Sebastien’s new startup: Stratumn Sponsors: - Shapeshift: Buy and sell alt coins instantly at http://ShapeShift.io - Hide.me: Protect your privacy and personal data with a free VPN account at Hide.me/epicenter Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/108 YouTube: https://youtu.be/K37BAkl-orQ Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy. - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

Gideon Greenspan, a computer scientist and CEO/Founder of the Israeli startup Coin Sciences, joined us for a discussion of their private blockchain platform MultiChain. Besides diving into the popular question of what’s the point of a private blockchain, we covered his earlier colored coins implementation as well as his view that blockchains are best understood … Continued

Support the show, consider donating: 19DWzVMsCGzXjXT5xojjYdTeepSueBD2Mq (http://bit.ly/1jnTqRh) Gideon Greenspan, a computer scientist and CEO/Founder of the Israeli startup Coin Sciences, joined us for a discussion of their private blockchain platform MultiChain. Besides diving into the popular question of what's the point of a private blockchain, we covered his earlier colored coins implementation as well as his view that blockchains are best understood as a novel database paradigm. Topics covered included: - How Gideon got involved in the blockchain space - Their colored coins implementation MultiSpark and why it failed to get traction - Why he saw a market for an open-source private blockchain platform and started MultiChain - What mining diversity is and how it is used for consensus in MultiChain - How permissions work in MultiChain - The issues of privacy in blockchains and why you can't have auditability and privacy - How private blockchains differ from regular distributed databases - The five criteria to decide if a project needs a blockchain - The problem he sees with smart contract blockchains Links mentioned in this episode: - Multichain website http://bit.ly/1HAp61D - Multichain Whitepaper http://bit.ly/1MZE12a - Colored coin protocol CoinSpark http://bit.ly/1lqg390 - Avoiding the pointless blockchain project: http://bit.ly/1SsbOEP - Private blockchains are more than 'just' shared databases http://bit.ly/1ToiODm - Smart contracts: The good, the bad and the lazy http://bit.ly/1SsbTII Sponsors: - Ledger Nano: Smart card security for your Bitcoins - Get 10% off your first order when you use the code EB09 at http://ledgerwallet.com (valid until 09/30/15) - Vaultoro: Trade gold to Bitcoin instantly and securely starting at just 1mg at http://vaultoro.com - Hide.me: Protect your privacy and personal data with a free VPN account at Hide.me/epicenter Show notes: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/podcast/107 YouTube: https://youtu.be/T7F-kvackBQ Epicenter Bitcoin is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain, Sébastien Couture & Meher Roy. - Visit our website: http://epicenterbitcoin.com - Subscribe to our newsletter: http://epicenterbitcoin.com/newsletter - Twitter: http://twitter.com/epicenterbtc

Christian Decker is a PhD student at ETH Zurich, where he is currently finishing up the world’s first PhD thesis entirely about Bitcoin. The computer scientist has been part of the Bitcoin community since 2009 and just recently turned off his last miner after 6.5 years! We talked about the current scalability debate and what … Continued