One of the concerns confronting the Bitcoin community is that of scaling the transaction throughput rate: How do we go from the current rate of approx. 5 transactions per second to a thousand times that?

In this episode, we talk to Emin Gun Sirer and Ittay Eyal from Cornell University regarding Bitcoin NG; a next generation Bitcoin blockchain design that addresses some protocol based limitations preventing Bitcoin from increasing transaction throughput.

Their proposal also enables fast (initial) transaction confirmations on the order of 10-20 seconds.

Topics covered in this episode:

Metrics to measure the security and fairness properties of Nakamoto consensus as implemented in Bitcoin.
A network emulation of Bitcoin designed by their team to study properties of Bitcoin network.
Technical design of Bitcoin NG
Concerns with Bitcoin NG
Impact of Bitcoin NG on various stakeholders if it is adopted in the main Bitcoin network.

Episode links:

This episode is hosted by Meher Roy and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/103

Emin Gün Sirer & Ittay Eyal: Bitcoin-NG – Scientists Versus the Church