For questions relating to overall structure and theory of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies
Questions tagged [architecture]
28 questions
215
votes
22 answers
What is a good way to concisely explain Bitcoin?
Often I'm asked to explain Bitcoin to someone and occasionally I come up with something stellar that really nails it, but most times it's a rambling incoherent mess.
What I would like to see is a short and simple explanation of what Bitcoin is that…
Gary
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40
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2 answers
How does Ripple solve the double-spend problem?
How does the Ripple system solve the double-spend problem? Does it also use some block-chain-like entity that officially dictates which transactions are confirmed and which are not, or does it use some other clever mechanism?
ThePiachu
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21
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3 answers
What is Ripple and how does it compare to Bitcoin?
What is Ripple, and how does the system compare to Bitcoin?
ThePiachu
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16
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1 answer
What prior work influenced the design of the Bitcoin instruction set?
The "Script" system used by Bitcoin transactions is commonly described as a Forth-like, stack-based language.
What prior work influenced the design and layout of the Script instruction set?
There may have been a research paper or essay about a…
Jason Dreyzehner
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9
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1 answer
How are the seed nodes chosen?
I'm currently doing a research project about Bitcoin and I've particularily been investigating the seed nodes and I have two questions about them :
How are they chosen ? Well, they have to be nodes with high disponibility (bandwith maybe?) but is…
Ayla
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8
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2 answers
Formal security analysis of Bitcoin
I was wondering if there is any in depth (with formal theorems) analysis of the security of the Bitcoin system.
The analysis in the original paper by Nakamoto is quite empirical and not that formal. I would love to see a detailed statement of what…
user1338
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6
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1 answer
What Software Patterns does the Bitcoin source code use?
I'm a Master Student in Computing Science and currently investigating the Bitcoin source code on the Software Patterns that are used. Part of the assignment is to ask the community to guide us.
I would like to ask you if you know any Software…
Patrick
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4 answers
What is the problem that mining solves?
Of course, the function of mining is to secure the blockchain, but I'm looking for a more abstract summary of what the exact problem is that mining tries to solve? I believe its called the Byzantine Generals problem, but can it be described in a…
Maestro
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5
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1 answer
Can Ripple exist without ripples?
Can a system like Ripple exist without a currency like ripples? As they are not used to pay the peers in the system, and their supply / fee ratio is so large they do not appear to be stopping the system from being spammed, could the system work…
ThePiachu
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5
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1 answer
Pros and Cons between Ripple payment verification and centralized authority's payment verification
I want to know the advantages and disadvantages between Ripple payment verification system and centralized authority's payment verification system.
tdumidu
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5
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What's the advantages of using the block chain as opposed to L2 solutions
I'm looking for a good example and explanation from a software architecture perspective BUT for general audience about the benefits of solving and having blockchain features on Layer 1 not disregarding any Layer 2 solution or blockchain but in fact…
Omar Saadoun
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4
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Since Bitcoin has no central system, where do network request go?
I heard bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no central system.
BUT where do you send the transaction id?
There must be a server to send the data to!?
It probably is a simple question but, that's the thing I never understood on bitcoin and…
Hexception
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4
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1 answer
Accepting micropayment donations via Lightning Network - what is the most efficient / recommended architecture?
The difficulty that I am experiencing at the moment - how to accept Lightning Network micropayments donations supporting (shameless plug): https://genesis.re/wiki#Plan_B
Zap / Joule:
I send on-chain BTC to lightning enabled wallet
I open a…
Mars Robertson
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4
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1 answer
What use are ripples?
In the Ripple system we have two types of currencies - ripples and all other currencies useful for transacting with people in your web of trust. Ripples are the only currency in the system that can be used for paying transaction fees and…
ThePiachu
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4
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2 answers
What is going to happen when it is totally infeasible to download the entire bitcoin transaction history?
As far as I know, the bitcoin system currently relies on the principle that all transactions are made by someone with access to the entire history of previous transactions. Since bitcoin's public debut 2.5ish years ago, these records have stayed…
Christian Chapman
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