Return-Path: Received: from smtp1.linuxfoundation.org (smtp1.linux-foundation.org [172.17.192.35]) by mail.linuxfoundation.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 83F33409 for ; Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:45:11 +0000 (UTC) X-Greylist: whitelisted by SQLgrey-1.7.6 Received: from mail-wi0-f181.google.com (mail-wi0-f181.google.com [209.85.212.181]) by smtp1.linuxfoundation.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 09218145 for ; Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:45:10 +0000 (UTC) Received: by wicne3 with SMTP id ne3so167098161wic.1 for ; Tue, 11 Aug 2015 01:45:08 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:date:message-id:subject:from:to:content-type; bh=E7luGiyVNHbK6/3cLlfDXrTVMIMFZqkCSPRODp1CO+M=; b=xUwVFPjxESd0TyaGJYZ0ZSRGJX//aCf1t+He38EJIkoaScowYz5cTU/KlKmsH019p8 ImNC3dwiCB03cEtis3+vzBPPjFEIMdZKdnKmX8kP7gGoKWM/5OEY3/GcHan0jh8k5S8T Eu0wxm50K833cfHf0rePdVnWicMtYO8viKFWtabZiKRLvbT+oJ8qqdBBEoCUYgQ6FFQu 9YFGdRj0A+5HbqxeQzcXK26xjms/M1xAcHiQdNUmw44i5cYlKD/bFZz/CoMaklWm5KyR ZRARaYKvqFsqa/K2Mact4dorE2Wj7fh/Uy2uYTGj/oS3xFUjGOk8Y3uyaBcbwXgWSUxE q1hw== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.194.23.7 with SMTP id i7mr53836750wjf.131.1439282708691; Tue, 11 Aug 2015 01:45:08 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.194.2.237 with HTTP; Tue, 11 Aug 2015 01:45:08 -0700 (PDT) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:45:08 +0800 Message-ID: From: Pindar Wong To: bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7b450a9a9543f4051d051e3f X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_20,DKIM_SIGNED, DKIM_VALID,DKIM_VALID_AU,FREEMAIL_FROM,HTML_MESSAGE,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_LOW autolearn=ham version=3.3.1 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on smtp1.linux-foundation.org Subject: [bitcoin-dev] CFP Bitcoin Scalability Workshop (Sept 12-13), Montreal Canada X-BeenThere: bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: Bitcoin Development Discussion List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:45:11 -0000 --047d7b450a9a9543f4051d051e3f Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Bitcoin Scalability Workshops In recent months the Bitcoin development community has faced difficult discussions of how to safely improve the scalability and decentralized nature of the Bitcoin network. To aid the technical consensus building process we are organizing a pair of workshops to collect technical criteria, present proposals and evaluate technical materials and data with academic discipline and analysis that fully considers the complex tradeoffs between decentralization, utility, security and operational realities. This may be considered as similar in intent and process to the NIST-SHA3 design process where performance and security were in a tradeoff for a security critical application. Since Bitcoin is a P2P currency with many stakeholders, it is important to collect requirements as broadly as possible, and through the process enhance everyone=E2=80=99s understanding of the technical properties of Bit= coin to help foster an inclusive, transparent, and informed process. Those with technical interest are invited to participate in this pair of workshops with the following intent: Phase 1: Scene setting, evaluation criteria, and tradeoff analysis. Montreal, Canada: September 12th-13th, 2015 Scalability is not a single parameter; there are many opportunities to make the Bitcoin protocol more efficient and better able to service the needs of its growing userbase. Each approach to further scaling the Bitcoin blockchain involves implicit trade offs of desired properties of the whole system. As a community we need to raise awareness of the complex and subtle issues involved, facilitate deeper research and testing of existing proposals, and motivate future work in this area. The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the general tradeoffs and requirements of any proposal to scale Bitcoin beyond its present limits. Session topics are to include the presentation of experimental data relating to known bottlenecks of Bitcoin=E2=80=99s continued growth and ana= lysis of implicit tradeoffs involved in general strategies for enabling future growth. This event will not host sessions on the topic of any specific proposals involving changes to the Bitcoin protocol. Such proposals would be the topic of a 2nd, follow-on Phase 2 workshop described below; this event is intended to =E2=80=9Cset the stage=E2=80=9D for work on and evaluation of s= pecific proposals in the time between the workshops. Phase 2 will be planned out further as part of Phase 1 with input from the participants. Phase 2: Presentation and review of technical proposals, with simulation, benchmark results. Hong Kong, SAR, China: TBD Nov/Dec 2015 Hopefully to be easier for the Chinese miners to attend, the second workshop pertaining to actual block size proposals is to be planned for Hong Kong roughly in the late November to December timeframe. The purpose of this workshop is to present and review actual proposals for scaling Bitcoin against the requirements gathered in Phase 1. Multiple competing proposals will be presented, with experimental data, and compared against each other. The goal is to raise awareness of scalability issues and build a pathway toward consensus for increasing Bitcoin=E2=80=99s trans= action processing capacity or, barring that, identify key areas of further required research and next steps for moving forward. Preliminarily, Phase 2 will be a time to share results from experiments performed as a result of Phase 1 and an opportunity to discuss new developments. How do the Workshops work? - Both events will be live-streamed with remote participation facilitated via IRC for parallel online discussion and passing questions to the even= t. - These workshops aim to facilitate the existing Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIP)[1] process. Most work will be done outside of the worksh= ops in the intervening months. The workshops serve to be additive to the des= ign and review process by raising awareness of diverse points of view, studi= es, simulations, and proposals. - Travel, venue details, and accommodation recommendation are available at scalingbitcoin.org. Registration begins August 12th at an early-bird ticket price of $150 USD until September 3rd. The ticket prices do not c= ome close to covering the venue expense and travel subsidies, hence the need for corporate sponsors. - Please see the FAQ at scalingbitcoin.org which should answer most other questions. Travel Subsidies for Independent/Academic Researchers There will be an application process for independent or academic researchers to apply for travel assistance to help cover the expense of airfare and hotel fees up to $1,000 per qualified presenter who intends to give a presentation. The four underwriters of this event have agreed to jointly review applications and cover the travel subsidies for qualified presenters. See scalingbitcoin.org for details. Sponsors of the Montreal Workshop The first workshop is hosted and with logistics handled by the Montreal consultancy CryptoMechanics . The Underwriters jointly responsible for venue expenses and researcher travel subsidies are currently the MIT Digital Currency Initiative, Chaincode Labs, Blockstream, and Chain.com. Current sponsors include: Cryptsy, BitcoinTalk, Final Hash, Blockstream, MIT DCI, Chaincode Labs, IDEO Futures, Kraken, and Chain.com. Additional sponsors are needed. Please see scalingbitcoin.org for sponsorship details or contact me directly via < pindar dot wong at gmail.com > Online Workshop Resources - Bitcoin-Workshops-Announce list https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops-ann= ounce - Bitcoin-Workshops discussion list https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops - #bitcoin-workshops chat on the Freenode IRC network http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=3Dbitcoin-workshops Call for Proposals/Papers/Presentations If you have any research relevant to issues surrounding Bitcoin scalability, your proposal for a presentation at the Montreal workshop would be most welcome. Please see scalingbitcoin.org for submission details. Pindar Wong Chair, Montreal Workshop Planning Committee Chairman, VeriFi (Hong Kong) Ltd. [1] https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals --047d7b450a9a9543f4051d051e3f Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Bitcoin Scalabil= ity Workshops

In recent months the Bitcoin development community has faced difficu= lt discussions of how to safely improve the scalability and decentralized n= ature of the Bitcoin network. To aid the technical consensus building proce= ss we are organizing a pair of workshops to collect technical criteria, pre= sent proposals and evaluate technical materials and data with academic disc= ipline and analysis that fully considers the complex tradeoffs between dece= ntralization, utility, security and operational realities. This may be cons= idered as similar in intent and process to the NIST-SHA3 design process whe= re performance and security were in a tradeoff for a security critical appl= ication.


Since Bitcoin is a P2P currency with many st= akeholders, it is important to collect requirements as broadly as possible,= and through the process enhance everyone=E2=80=99s understanding of the te= chnical properties of Bitcoin to help foster an inclusive, transparent, and= informed process.


Those with technical interest a= re invited to participate in this pair of workshops with the following inte= nt:


Phase 1: Scene setting, evaluation criteri= a, and tradeoff analysis. =C2= =A0

= Montreal, Canada: September 12th-13th, 2015

Scalabil= ity is not a single parameter; there are many opportunities to make the Bit= coin protocol more efficient and better able to service the needs of its gr= owing userbase. Each approach to further scaling the Bitcoin blockchain inv= olves implicit trade offs of desired properties of the whole system. As a c= ommunity we need to raise awareness of the complex and subtle issues involv= ed, facilitate deeper research and testing of existing proposals, and motiv= ate future work in this area.


=

= The purpose of this w= orkshop is to discuss the general tradeoffs and requirements of any proposal to scale Bitcoin beyond its present limits. Session topics a= re to include the presentation of experimental data relating to known bottl= enecks of Bitcoin=E2=80=99s continued growth and analysis of implicit trade= offs involved in general strategies for enabling future growth.


This event will not host sessions on the topic of any specific= proposals involving changes to the Bitcoin protocol. Such proposals would = be the topic of a 2nd, follow-on Phase 2 workshop described below; this eve= nt is intended to =E2=80=9Cset the stage=E2=80=9D for work on and evaluatio= n of specific proposals in the time between the workshops.

Phase 2 will be planned out further as part of Phase 1 with input = from the participants.


Phase 2: Presentation = and review of technical proposals, with simulation, benchmark results. =C2=A0

Hong Kong, SAR, China: TBD Nov/= Dec 2015

Hopefully to be easier for the Chinese miners to attend, the second wo= rkshop pertaining to actual block size proposals is to be planned for Hong = Kong roughly in the late November to December timeframe.

<= font size=3D"2">

The purpose of this workshop is to present and review actual proposal= s for scaling Bitcoin against the requirements gathered in Phase 1. Multipl= e competing proposals will be presented, with experimental data, and compar= ed against each other. The goal is to raise awareness of scalability issues= and build a pathway toward consensus for increasing Bitcoin=E2=80=99s tran= saction processing capacity or, barring that, identify key areas of further= required research and next steps for moving forward.


Preliminarily, Phase 2 will be a time to share results from experiments = performed as a result of Phase 1 and an opportunity to discuss new developm= ents.


How do the Workshops work?=

  • Both events will be live-streamed with remote partic= ipation facilitated via IRC for parallel online discussion and passing ques= tions to the event.

  • These workshops aim to facilitate the existing Bitcoin Improv= ement Proposals (BIP)[1] process. Most work will be done outside of the wor= kshops in the intervening months. The workshops serve to be additive to the= design and review process by raising awareness of diverse points of view, = studies, simulations, and proposals.

  • Travel, venue details, and accommodation rec= ommendation are available at scalin= gbitcoin.org. Registration = begins August 12th at an early-bird ticket price of $150 USD until Septembe= r 3rd. The ticket prices do not come close to covering the venue expense an= d travel subsidies, hence the need for corporate sponsors.

  • <= p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><= font size=3D"2">Please see the FAQ at = scalingbitcoin.org which should answer most other questions.


Travel Subsidies for Independent/Aca= demic Researchers

There will be an application process for independent or acade= mic researchers to apply for travel assistance to help cover the expense of= airfare and hotel fees up to $1,000 per qualified presenter who intends to= give a presentation.=C2=A0 The four underwriters of this event have agreed= to jointly review applications and cover the travel subsidies for qualifie= d presenters. See scalingbitco= in.org for details.<= /font>


Sponsors of the Montreal Workshop

<= p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><= font size=3D"2">The first workshop is hosted a= nd with logistics handled by the Montreal consultancy CryptoMechanics.


The Underwriters jointly responsible for venue ex= penses and researcher travel subsidies are currently the MIT Digital Curren= cy Initiative, Chaincode Labs, Blockstream, and Chain.com.

= Current sponsors include: Cryptsy, BitcoinTalk, Final Hash, Blockstream, MI= T DCI, Chaincode Labs, IDEO Futures, Kraken, and Chain.com.

Additional sponsors are needed. Please see scalingbitcoin.org for spo= nsorship details or contact me directly via < pindar dot wong at gmail.com >

=

Online Worksh= op Resources


Call for Proposals/Papers/Presenta= tions

If you= have any research relevant to issues surrounding Bitcoin scalability, your= proposal for a presentation at the Montreal workshop would be most welcome= .=C2=A0 Please see scalingbitcoin.o= rg for submission details.


Pindar Wong

Chair, Montreal Workshop Planning Committee

Chairman,= VeriFi (Hong Kong) Ltd.


[1] <= /span>https:= //en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals
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