SwBratcher on Nostr: lopp discusses protocol ossification in Bitcoin and argues against prematurely ...
lopp (npub17u5…t4tp) discusses protocol ossification in Bitcoin and argues against prematurely halting its development.
Ossification is the slowing or halting of changes in a network protocol as it gains widespread adoption, making future modifications more challenging.
He says that as Bitcoin’s user base grows, coordinating updates becomes increasingly difficult, leading to likely ossification. Yet, he cautions that the protocol still has room for improvement.
Drawing parallels with SMTP, he notes that lack of evolution can lead to increased complexity and vulnerabilities in higher layers built atop a stagnant base layer. And, features such as covenants, vaults, and payment pools that require base layer upgrades, could be more cleanly implemented directly into the protocol.
He advocates for careful, consensus-driven upgrades to ensure Bitcoin remains relevant and secure over the long term. I would add that “careful” trumps “consensus-driven” here, because inviting voting invites shortsightedness. Democracies are selfish, eventually if not initially.
He calls for the Bitcoin community to continue to pursue sensible improvements to enhance the protocol’s function and security.
Ossification is the slowing or halting of changes in a network protocol as it gains widespread adoption, making future modifications more challenging.
He says that as Bitcoin’s user base grows, coordinating updates becomes increasingly difficult, leading to likely ossification. Yet, he cautions that the protocol still has room for improvement.
Drawing parallels with SMTP, he notes that lack of evolution can lead to increased complexity and vulnerabilities in higher layers built atop a stagnant base layer. And, features such as covenants, vaults, and payment pools that require base layer upgrades, could be more cleanly implemented directly into the protocol.
He advocates for careful, consensus-driven upgrades to ensure Bitcoin remains relevant and secure over the long term. I would add that “careful” trumps “consensus-driven” here, because inviting voting invites shortsightedness. Democracies are selfish, eventually if not initially.
He calls for the Bitcoin community to continue to pursue sensible improvements to enhance the protocol’s function and security.
quoting note1efa…hc4uI have thoughts on the risks and rewards of ossifying Bitcoin.
A lot of thoughts.
I've tried to lay them all out in my latest post.
https://blog.lopp.net/on-ossification/