HackerPapers

arXiv:1710.09437cs.CR

Casper the Friendly Finality Gadget

Vitalik Buterin, Virgil Griffith

Abstract

We introduce Casper, a proof of stake-based finality system which overlays an existing proof of work blockchain. Casper is a partial consensus mechanism combining proof of stake algorithm research and Byzantine fault tolerant consensus theory. We introduce our system, prove some desirable features, and show defenses against long range revisions and catastrophic crashes. The Casper overlay provides almost any proof of work chain with additional protections against block reversions.

arXiv comments
10 pages, 5 figures
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
cs.CRCryptography and Security

On Hacker News

Linked by 2 identifiable commenters in 7 comments across 7 threads, from May 2018 to Aug 2022. Found in 1 HN submission from Nov 2017 to Nov 2017. Open submission discussions.

Comments linking this paper, per year.

Discussed in comments7 threads

  1. Ethereum Goerli testnet merge goes live before move to proof-of-stake 1 comment

    • If you really want to dig in, here are the key papers on the PoS algorithm: https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.09437 https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.03052 To learn about the sharding plan and various other stuff in the roadmap, this is a great technical overview…

      DennisPView on HNParent context

  2. US sentences crypto expert to 5 years after North Korea blockchain presentation 1 comment

    • This is the same Virgil of: - Ethereum Proof of Stake [1] - King of the Nerds TV Show - Wikiscanner [2] Source [3] [1] https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.09437 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiScanner [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil_Griffith

      nmwnmwView on HNParent context

  3. Ethereum staking – More sustainable crypto 1 comment

    • > if over 1/3 of the staked coins are malicious So now you've escalated the attack to be a 33% staker, which I don't think you'd mentioned before. I'll note that 33% of stake is likely to cost more than 50% of mining hardware, and certainly would at the high levels of staking…

      DennisPView on HNParent context

  4. Bitcoin Is Time 1 comment

    • Here are the two papers on Casper: Casper the Friendly Finality Gadget: https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.09437 Combining GHOST and Casper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.03052 A very simple summary is that it's a fairly traditional consensus protocol, in which if anyone breaks the rules…

      DennisPView on HNParent context

  5. Nvidia announces mining GPUs, cuts the hash rate of RTX-3060 in half 1 comment

    • Shard execution isn't necessary for migrating to proof-of-stake. The PoS migration just links a single EVM to the beacon chain; that's enough to remove PoW, i.e. the main concern in this discussion about GPUs. Around the same time is the migration to data sharding, which…

      DennisPView on HNParent context

  6. Ethereum Plans to Cut Its Energy Consumption by 99 Percent 1 comment

    • I'm not up to date but here's the Casper FFG paper, which says: > Accountable safety means that two conflicting checkpoints cannot both be finalized unless ≥1/3 of validators violate a slashing condition (meaning at least one third of the total deposit is lost). Plausible…

      DennisPView on HNParent context

  7. Bitcoin Gold Hit by Double Spend Attack, Exchanges Lose Millions 1 comment

    • Interesting points. A defense against this type of attack is to use at least the hybrid proof-of-stake design that Ethereum is rolling out in about three months; blocks are proposed by proof of work, but proof of stake periodically adds a layer of "economic finality." Here's a…

      DennisPView on HNParent context

Submitted to Hacker News

Connected through shared HN threads, not inferred similarity or a recommendation.