Yes, I will do my best as I also don’t consider myself a programmer. Some of this you probably already know but to build on logic.
As you know, bitcoin relies on mining validation to discover blocks. This is done using hardware that does “hash math”. Once upon a time, we used CPUs but now we use ASICS.
ASICs are much much faster than anything else at completing this math because they were optimized to do ONLY that.
But ASICS are just chips- the result of low level builds. Low level means that the programming language gives the operator direct control over the systems hardware.
Bitcoin software uses C++ programming language.
C++ software uses things like pointers etc (this allowed us to be able to basically give our Bitcoin address’ to live at and other weird things but it’s dependent on hardware/software sync).
the miner itself (aside from the ASIC chip which runs the hash math) requires instructions to operate. miners use ARM and I’ve recently seen arguments for x86… but these are proprietary meaning there’s rules to using these”instructions” (see tarriffs, fees, or vendor lock ins)
Whereas, RISC-V and even other even newer (and potentially more lightweight) ISAs (instruction sets) offer competition as they are open source models and open source iterates v quickly.
All of this is to say ASICS could be better… they could become faster potentially and whoever has early access to that hardware that does optimize… would be the fastest in the world at validating blocks and potentially other operational forms of compute.
No quantum computer required.
So you’re worried that a new mining hardware will be created that will be so good at mining that the other miners won’t be able to compete. And you’re worried that this hardware will only be in the hands of bad actors that will control the entire network. And you’re worried that no one else will be able to get their hands on this hardware to compete with them for the rest of time?
I’m worried that there is exactly one group of people working on this and their motivations are at odds with the success of Bitcoin, yes
I understand now. I’m not really concerned because I think that eventually it will become the new standard. The same way GPUs and ASICs became the new standard.
I agree, which circles bc to my point about.... as long as it is not concentrated in the hands of the few. Do you see what I mean now
I can’t think of any technology that stayed concentrated in the hands of a few indefinitely.
How would you know? You would never be given access to information like that if it existed
I guess I wouldn’t but if that technology was being used, people would notice. And if the technology is never used, then who cares?
We would all know that technology exists once they start mining. Then the miners would rally to try and catch up.
Sure. Or people running homebrew systems would tell you. But I digress… still a great conversation for nostr. Thanks 🙏
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