Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) are the two dominant blockchain consensus models today. However, they each have drawbacks that have motivated researchers to develop innovative new… Continue reading Beyond Proof of Work and Proof of Stake: Emerging Consensus Models
Month: August 2023
The Evolution of Blockchain Consensus: From Proof of Work to Proof of Stake
When Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin in 2008, he introduced the concept of a decentralized digital currency powered by a novel consensus mechanism called Proof of Work (PoW). This allowed participants… Continue reading The Evolution of Blockchain Consensus: From Proof of Work to Proof of Stake
Hardening Blockchain Nodes Against Attack
The decentralized node networks powering blockchain face threats from hackers exploiting vulnerabilities to disrupt consensus and availability. Nodes must be hardened to withstand attacks like DDoS, DoS, de-peering, Sybil attacks,… Continue reading Hardening Blockchain Nodes Against Attack
Blockchain and Baseball: The Scoreboard – Tracking the Blocks and Hits
In baseball, the scoreboard acts as a ledger to track key events like runs, hits, and errors to provide a snapshot of the game’s progress. Likewise, a blockchain records transactions… Continue reading Blockchain and Baseball: The Scoreboard – Tracking the Blocks and Hits
How to Secure Your Blockchain Wallet and Transactions
Blockchain wallets that store cryptocurrencies and digital assets are prime targets for hackers. While the blockchain itself is decentralized and secure, users must take care to properly secure access to… Continue reading How to Secure Your Blockchain Wallet and Transactions
zk-SNARKs and the Evolution of Blockchain Privacy
While blockchain’s transparency helps prevent fraud, sharing all transaction details publicly risks privacy violations. Emerging cryptographic innovations like zero-knowledge proofs offer new ways to maximize both privacy and security on… Continue reading zk-SNARKs and the Evolution of Blockchain Privacy
Securing Blockchain Smart Contracts and DApps
Smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) built on blockchain introduce new attack surfaces and vulnerabilities compared to simple value transactions. Without proper security engineering, exploitable code risks theft and loss… Continue reading Securing Blockchain Smart Contracts and DApps
Case Study – The Verge 51% Attack and Blockchain Consensus Vulnerabilities
In April 2018, the Verge blockchain fell victim to a damaging 51% attack. Within hours, threat actors took over Verge’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism and successfully double spent coins, stealing an… Continue reading Case Study – The Verge 51% Attack and Blockchain Consensus Vulnerabilities
Blockchain and Baseball: The Growth and Adoption – Following the Progress of the Game
Since its origins over 10 years ago, blockchain has rapidly evolved from an obscure technology into a catalyst for transformation across industries. Comparably, baseball grew in popularity over the 20th… Continue reading Blockchain and Baseball: The Growth and Adoption – Following the Progress of the Game
Consensus Models – Understanding Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake Security
At the heart of any blockchain is the consensus mechanism – the distributed process that allows nodes to agree on the state of the ledger. Two primary approaches have emerged… Continue reading Consensus Models – Understanding Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake Security