Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies

Ari Juels, a Professor at Cornell Tech (Jacobs Institute) and former Chief Scientist of RSA, joins us to discuss his work two of his blockchain-related research topics: Authenticated Data Feeds for Smart Contracts and criminal smart contracts. One of the shortcomings of decentralized smart contracts is their inability to retrieve information from the outside world. Smart contracts can’t make API calls to websites and data feeds, but rely on oracles to feed real-world information to the chain. This potentially requires a high trust in the oracle operators. Authenticated data feeds promise to solve the problem by relying on Intel’s novel SGX hardware. We also talked about how criminals could use smart contracts to more efficiently conduct crimes such as incentivizing the theft of private keys or even soliciting real-world crimes such as murder. Topics covered in this episode: Ari’s background in cryptography and cryptocurrencies The pain points with oracles as we describe them today The idea behind Authenticated Data Feeds The hardware and software architecture of the Authenticated Data Feed model and how hardware isolation works How Authenticated Data Feeds could be used to create criminal smart contracts The differents ways in which criminals could use Authenticated Data Feeds to release bounties for crimes such as private key theft or even murder Countermeasures to fight criminal smart contracts The Initiative For Cryptocurrencies & Contracts (IC3) and its raison d’être Episode links: Ari Juels' website Town Crier: An Authenticated Data Feed for Smart Contracts (white paper) The Ring of Gyges: Investigating the Future of Criminal Smart Contracts (white paper) IC3 - The Initiative For Cryptocurrencies & Contracts CCS 2016: Criminal Smart Contracts Talk Zero Days: Stuxnet Documentary This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/164

Roger Ver is one of the earliest Bitcoin investors and through his tireless evangelizing of the cryptocurrency became known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’. Roger joined us to discuss Bitcoin’s incredible potential to foster liberty. We also discussed how the current stalemate about how to scale Bitcoin is threatening that potential. And, finally, the mining pool operated by his site Bitcoin.com that is supporting the Bitcoin Unlimited client. Topics covered in this episode: How Roger Ver became the first investor in Bitcoin startups What the Bitcoin community was like in 2011 The appeal of Bitcoin for voluntaryists Why the scalability stalemate is crippling Bitcoin Bitcoin.com’s new mining pool and support for Bitcoin Unlimited His vision for the future of Bitcoin Episode links: Bitcoin.com Roger Ver Uncut Video Bitcoin Unlimited BLOCKTRAIL | Bitcoin API and Block Explorer Hashrate Distribution Mining Pools & Clients BLOCKTRAIL | Bitcoin API and Block Explorer Roger Ver: TIme to End the Block-Size Blockade Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/163

Few crypto projects have gotten as much attention and caused as much controversy as Steem. The blockchain-based social media platform launched early this year and managed to gain real user traction building up a vibrant community of contributors. The Steem token quickly entered bubble territory reaching a market cap of almost $400m and losing 90% of its value since. Steem Co-Founder and CEO Ned Scott joined us to discuss the ambition of the project and its short tumultous history. We also discussed some of the accusations against Steem and its unorthodox launch. Topics covered in this episode: How Steem was launched out of the BitShares community The different components and tokens of the Steem system How Steem rewards content contributors The controversial Steem launch and criticisms of the project Why Steem transitioned from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake The potential disbalance of power due to the Steem distribution How Steem managed to build a vibrant user community Episode links: Steem Website Steemit.com Why Every Blockchain Needs a Constitution Charlie Shrem Article on Steem Launch The History of Steem Launch in Words of Dan Larimer Bitcoin Talk Thread on Steem Launch Bitcoin Stackexchange: What is Steem? This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/162

In their relatively short lifespan, blockchain technologies have already undergone significant milestones. Bitcoin’s blockchain, often referred to as Blockchain 1.0, features a simple database ledger that records transactions in a chronological order and represents the state of the network to participants. Ethereum, or Blockchain 2.0, introduced the notion of smart contracts. Microsoft’s Bletchley Project introduces a new modular architecture which might mark a new milestone for blockchain technologies. Marley Gray, Principal Program Manager Blockchain at Microsoft, joins us to talk about Microsoft’s approach to blockchain architecture. With enterprise in mind, Bletchley introduces the concept of “Cryptlets”, the core building blocks for introducing a secure middleware tier into blockchain application infrastructure. These computational units, running off-chain, on secure trusted container enclave hardware, could provide trusted data to on-chain smart contract logic. Topics covered in this episode: Marley’s background and experience at Microsoft Why Microsoft is aggressively pursuing blockchain technologies (compared to other large tech companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc) Microsoft’s Azure Blockchain-as-a-Service offering Project Bletchley, its goals and the problems it is trying to address The primary use cases in which Bletchley may provide value How Bletchley addresses the issue of deploying consortium style blockchains What are Cryptlets and how do they relate to Bletchley How Cryptlets are different from Oracles How Cryptlets could provide data to Ethereum-style smart contracts Episode links: Bletchley Whitepaper Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) | Microsoft Azure This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/161

As a lead developer of the Apache webserver and founder of the Apache Software Foundation, Brian Behlendorf has played a central role in building internet architecture. Recently, he became Executive Director of the Hyperledger Project that aims to build foundational blockchain technology in an open-source, collaborative way. Topics covered in this episode: Brian’s role in the development of the Apache server and Apache Software Foundation The flaws in how blockchain software is currently being developed Why blockchain needs a foundation to steer the development of its foundational technology The key lessons from the Apache Software Foundation that inform Hyperledger’s approach Hyperledger’s membership and organizational structure The role of software licenses and why he favors Apache Episode links: Hyperledger Website Brian Behlendorf's Wikipedia page Brian Behlendorf's Website Blockchain Meetup Berlin Hyperledger Talk This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/160

Stratumn CEO Richard Caetano and Head of Research Anuj das Gupta joined us to discuss their work to bring security and integrity to processes. We covered the philosophy behind the company and why they use cryptography and other technologies coming out of the crypto space while shunning a classical blockchain design. Topics covered in this episode: How Paris-based startup Stratumn was founded Why Stratumn’s thinking revolves around processes How Proof-of-Process secures the who, what, where, when and why of each step of a process How Stratumn uses Zero Knowledge Proofs to protect privacy The connection between Proof-of-Process and blockchain protocols Why using cryptography to secure processes didn’t gain traction earlier but does so today Episode links: Stratumn Website Proof-of-Process white paper Use case book Chainscript Stratumn Blog This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/159

System scalability and extensibility of system features are two central problems around which research in the cryptocurrency / blockchain industry has centered. For example, the Blockstream sidechains project foresaw hundreds of blockchains coordinating together to form an ‘Internet of Chains’ delivering extensibility to the Bitcoin system. Recently, Dr. Gavin Wood, co-founder of Ethereum and Parity, put forth Polkadot, a technical vision to achieve the similar end-goals using different system architecture. Polkadot could enable individual blockchain networks to share security and communications infrastructure with other blockchain networks, forming in effect an ‘Internet of Blockchain networks’. Melonport, a team based out of Zurich, has taken up the challenge of deploying the Polkadot network and also building decentralized asset management software on the same network. In this episode we converse with Mona El Isa and Reto Trinkler, co-founders of Melonport, in order to discover more about the overall vision. Topics covered in this episode: Melonport, a team based out of Zurich, has taken up the challenge of deploying the Polkadot network and also building decentralized asset management software on the same network. In this episode we converse with Mona El Isa and Reto Trinkler, co-founders of Melonport, in order to discover more about the overall vision. Description of problem(s) Polkadot seeks to resolve Analogous design problems from technological history Overview of Polkadot network Overview of Melonport asset management software How Melonport and Polkadot connect with each other Next steps for the team Episode links: Melonport website Melonport white paper melonproject on GitHub Melonport explainer video Polkadot Network Polkadot white paper Parity and Melonport joint press release This episode is hosted by Meher Roy and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/158

String Labs founders Tom Ding and Dominic Williams joined us to discuss their project DFINITY, a next-generation blockchain network. Through leveraging technological advances, DFINITY aims to deliver an infinitely scalable decentralized cloud that will be able to power applications from decentralized search to supply chain applications. We covered DFINITY’s approach to scalability, interoperability, consensus as well as their sophisticated approach to governance: The Blockchain Nervous System. Topics covered in this episode: Tom and Dominic ended up founding String Labs The DFINITY project and objective of an infinitely scalable decentralized cloud How consensus works in DFINITY Governance in DFINITY through the Blockchain Nervous System Threshold Relay signatures and other new technologies that are part of DFINITY The importance and mechanics of public/private blockchain interoperability DFINITY’s business model Episode links: String Technology DFINITY Shanghai Talk DFINITY Shanghai Presentation Slides Introducing Random Beacons Using Threshold Relay Chains Random Beacons in Decentralized Networks This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/157

As is the case with most luxury goods, the diamond industry is faced with the issues of theft, fraud, and counterfeiting. Illegal activity is present at every level of the supply chain, which collectively costs the industry and its insurers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In recent years, international treaties and regulation have been put in place in an attempt to combat illegal activity, but criminals are most often a step ahead. Leanne Kemp, CEO of Everledger, joins us to explain how her company is using advanced geological techniques, and blockchains, to bring more traceability to the diamond industry. Everledger, whose clients include many of the largest insurance companies, builds software which allows for a diamond’s unique characteristics to be hashed and notarized in the blockchain. Hence, a stone’s provenance, and the trail of ownership can be traced, therefore limiting the opportunities for fraud and making it difficult for stolen diamonds to re-enter the market. Topics covered in this episode: Leanne’s background as a technologist A broad overview of the diamond industry A look at the diamond supply chain What roles banks and insurance companies play in the supply chain How diamonds are uniquely fingerprinted The Kimberly process and other regulations Everledger’s technology stack and business model Other sectors which can also benefit from increased traceability Episode links: Everledger Kimberley Process This episode is hosted by Meher Roy and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/156

Attracting over 70 of the world’s biggest financial institutions to its consortium in just over a year, R3 has accomplished a formidable task. Aiming to rethink the fabric of the financial system, they first conducted experiments testing blockchain platforms for their member and last year began developing their own distributed ledger platform: Corda. The effort to build Corda was lead by R3 CTO Richard Brown and the former Bitcoin developer and R3 lead architect Mike Hearn. In a wide-ranging discussion, we covered the vision of the project and why it represents a radical departure from existing blockchain platforms. Topics covered in this episode: The origin story of R3 Why existing blockchain designs didn’t meet their needs How the R3 team lead a design effort to develop a new platform from scratch The business problem Corda is aiming to solve The components of Corda’s architecture How Corda handles privacy Notaries and preventing double spends Open sourcing Corda and the plan to join Hyperledger Episode links: R3 Corda: What Makes it Different Introducing R3 Corda: A Distributed Ledger for Financial Services Corda: An Introduction [PDF] R3 Website E151 - Ian Grigg: Ricardian Contracts and Digital Assets Prehistory Smart Contract Templates: Foundations, Design Landscape & Research Directions This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/155