"Blockchain technology is energy-intensive..." => No, it doesn't have to be.

Let's look at Proof-Of-Stake, an alternative to the energy-intensive Proof-Of-Work algorithm.

🧵🔽

1️⃣ A Quick Recap On Proof-Of-Work

A Proof-Of-Work algorithm requires miners to do a certain amount of work that is compute-intensive to gain access to a service or the right to do something. This algorithm, by design, also requires that the work done shall not ...
... be reusable for anything else than what it was performed for. This lies at the core of the security concept of a blockchain. To gain the right to append a new block to a chain and to get some currency as a reward, there is work to be done, and this work must be verifyable.
That work is a race between different miners. Many miners try to compete and to be the first to find the answer to a problem presented to them. This implies that a lot of energy is wasted as only the first correct solution is accepted.
You can find a more detailed thread on Proof-Of-Work here:

https://t.co/VGzmmbMisE
2️⃣ Enter Proof-Of-Stake

Proof-Of-Stake is another algorithm, designed to create distributed consensus on a blockchain while being less energy-intensive and more scalable than Proof-Of-Work.
The first mention (I know of) of Proof-Of-Stake dates back to 2011 when it was discussed on the Bitcointalk forums.

While having the same goal as Proof-Of-Work, distributed consensus, the process is completely different.
3️⃣ How It Works

A Blockchain that uses Proof-Of-Stake chooses a node to create and append the next block randomly. This process of appending a new block to the chain is usually called "forging" and not "mining".
To be eligible to be chosen, nodes must stake some of the chain's cryptocurrency. This means that a certain amount of coins is locked away and can't be accessed for as long as the node wants to act as a forger.
If a new block is to be appended to the chain, the network randomly chooses between all nodes that have staked at least the minimum amount of coins required. This draft is usually weighted which could mean that the node with the largest amount staked has the ...
... highest chance to be chosen. To compensate this, blockchains usually take other factors into account like the age of the node's stake.

Whenever a node is chosen to forge a new block, the stake's age is reset to zero to distribute forging among all nodes ...
... a little more equal.

There are many other factors that can be taken into account and they are usually as individual as the blockchain using Proof-Of-Stake. Taking a look at the specific blockchain's whitepaper usually helps you to decide whether the chain is legit ...
... and it is worth setting up a forging node for it or if it's not working in everyone else's favor.

When chosen, a forging node checks whether all transactions for the next block are valid. It then signs the block and appends it to the chain.
The stake of a forging node is always at risk. If a node harmfully tries to insert manipulated blocks into the chain and the network notices, it loses its stake and is banned from ever participating in the forging process again.
This is to ensure that all parties involved in the forging process play by the rules as there is a lot of money at risk when they commit a fraud.
A forging node that wants to exit the forging process usually needs to wait for some time until its stake is released. This time is used to recheck all the blocks it ever forged. This is the last time a potential fraud can be detected.
Only after the check completed successfully, the stake is released and can be transferred again.
4️⃣ That's It

Well, we are at the end of this thread, and I hope you now understand Proof-Of-Stake, the alternative to the energy-intensive Proof-Of-Work a little better.
If you enjoy threads like this one, drop a like, comment with you feedback, and follow me if you want more content like this. Your support is highly appreciated!
5️⃣ A Small Addition

Forging nodes are also often called validators. The process is still called forging but validators validate transactions which is where this name comes from.

More from Crypto

Michael Pettis @michaelxpettis argues that it is not always obvious who (China or the U.S.) adjusts best to "turbulent changes."
Bitcoin answers that question.
Thread:


World economies currently suffer four major redistribution challenges:
The most important is increasing government stealth use of the monetary system to confiscate assets from productive actors.
/2

That process is exacerbated by "Cantillon Effect" transfers to interest groups close to government ("the entitled class," public sector workers, the medical industrial complex, academia, etc....), which is destroying much of that wealth /3

The shadow nature (see Keynes) of government inflation makes the process unidentifiable, un-addressable and undemocratic.
The biggest victims (America's poorly educated young) are unequipped to counter generational confiscation tactics of today's wily senior beneficiaries. /4

Government control of the numéraire in key economic statistics (GDP, inflation, etc...) makes it impossible for economic actors to measure progress and liabilities. /5

You May Also Like

I'm going to do two history threads on Ethiopia, one on its ancient history, one on its modern story (1800 to today). 🇪🇹

I'll begin with the ancient history ... and it goes way back. Because modern humans - and before that, the ancestors of humans - almost certainly originated in Ethiopia. 🇪🇹 (sub-thread):


The first likely historical reference to Ethiopia is ancient Egyptian records of trade expeditions to the "Land of Punt" in search of gold, ebony, ivory, incense, and wild animals, starting in c 2500 BC 🇪🇹


Ethiopians themselves believe that the Queen of Sheba, who visited Israel's King Solomon in the Bible (c 950 BC), came from Ethiopia (not Yemen, as others believe). Here she is meeting Solomon in a stain-glassed window in Addis Ababa's Holy Trinity Church. 🇪🇹


References to the Queen of Sheba are everywhere in Ethiopia. The national airline's frequent flier miles are even called "ShebaMiles". 🇪🇹
A THREAD ON @SarangSood

Decoded his way of analysis/logics for everyone to easily understand.

Have covered:
1. Analysis of volatility, how to foresee/signs.
2. Workbook
3. When to sell options
4. Diff category of days
5. How movement of option prices tell us what will happen

1. Keeps following volatility super closely.

Makes 7-8 different strategies to give him a sense of what's going on.

Whichever gives highest profit he trades in.


2. Theta falls when market moves.
Falls where market is headed towards not on our original position.


3. If you're an options seller then sell only when volatility is dropping, there is a high probability of you making the right trade and getting profit as a result

He believes in a market operator, if market mover sells volatility Sarang Sir joins him.


4. Theta decay vs Fall in vega

Sell when Vega is falling rather than for theta decay. You won't be trapped and higher probability of making profit.