Author: John Hardy 2017-07-05 09:18:36
Published on: 2017-07-05T09:18:36+00:00
MR POWA is a method that introduces an additional proof of work to a blockchain in response to detected mining behavior. In the case of BIP148, the activation criterion could be when non-BIP148 compliant chain is detected 144 blocks ahead of the BIP148 compliant chain. The software would then change its consensus rules (hard fork) to lower the difficulty for existing PoW method and introduce a second POW method such as Scrypt or Ethash. This would guarantee SegWit activation and heap additional pressure on miners to follow the BIP148 chain. The downside is that it could permanently split the network, but the upside is that BIP148 miners would no longer need to “hold their nerve” as they would be guaranteed a viable chain and rewarded for their early support. It could neutralize attacks from the other chain by requiring POW methods to alternate. This idea is highly contentious and should be implemented in a grassroots movement similar to BIP148. Anyone who is already running a BIP148 node could easily run a BIP148 + MR POWA node. Ideally, it would just force the miners to follow the BIP148 chain and the code would never be activated. This plan is based on pure game theory and will have to be evaluated carefully before implementation.
Updated on: 2023-05-20T03:09:35.969959+00:00