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From: Richard Hein <richard.hein@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2018 14:58:01 -0400
Message-ID: <CABMHvMJ_tNs-upeZ5gRdKZugh-krre=pYQfbHOa9ctaVicuLrg@mail.gmail.com>
To: =?UTF-8?B?0JDRgNGC0ZHQvCDQm9C40YLQstC40L3QvtCy0LjRhw==?=
	<theartlav@gmail.com>, 
	Bitcoin Protocol Discussion <bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org>
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Subject: Re: [bitcoin-dev] Miner dilution attack on Bitcoin - is that
 something plausible?
Precedence: list

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It's important therefore to ensure that everyone can make ASICs, IMHO.

On Mon, Jun 18, 2018 at 2:34 PM, =D0=90=D1=80=D1=82=D1=91=D0=BC =D0=9B=D0=
=B8=D1=82=D0=B2=D0=B8=D0=BD=D0=BE=D0=B2=D0=B8=D1=87 via bitcoin-dev <
bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org> wrote:

> Dilution is a potential attack i randomly came up with in a Twitter
> arguement and couldn't find any references to or convincing arguments of =
it
> being implausible.
>
> Suppose a malicious actor were to acquire a majority of hash power, and
> proceed to use that hash power to produce valid, but empty blocks.
>
> As far as i understand it, this would effectively reduce the block rate b=
y
> half or more and since nodes can't differentiate block relay and block
> production there would be nothing they can do to adjust difficulty or bla=
ck
> list the attacker.
>
> At a rough estimate of $52 per TH equipment cost (Antminer pricing) and
> 12.5 BTC per 10 minutes power cost we are looking at an order of $2 billi=
on
> of equipment and $0.4 billion a month of power costs (ignoring block
> reward) to maintain an attack - easily within means of even a minor
> government-scale actor.
>
> Is that a plausible scenario, or am i chasing a mirage? If it is
> plausible, what could be done to mitigate it?
>
>
> -Artem
>
> _______________________________________________
> bitcoin-dev mailing list
> bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org
> https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-dev
>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">It&#39;s important therefore to ensure that everyone can m=
ake ASICs, IMHO.</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_qu=
ote">On Mon, Jun 18, 2018 at 2:34 PM, =D0=90=D1=80=D1=82=D1=91=D0=BC =D0=9B=
=D0=B8=D1=82=D0=B2=D0=B8=D0=BD=D0=BE=D0=B2=D0=B8=D1=87 via bitcoin-dev <spa=
n dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org" =
target=3D"_blank">bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org</a>&gt;</span> wrot=
e:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-l=
eft:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div><div><div><=
div>Dilution is a potential attack i randomly came up with in a Twitter arg=
uement and couldn&#39;t find any references to or convincing arguments of i=
t being implausible.<br><br></div>Suppose a malicious actor were to acquire=
 a majority of hash power, and proceed to use that hash power to produce va=
lid, but empty blocks.<br><br></div>As far as i understand it, this would e=
ffectively reduce the block rate by half or more and since nodes can&#39;t =
differentiate block relay and block production there would be nothing they =
can do to adjust difficulty or black list the attacker.<br><br></div>At a r=
ough estimate of $52 per TH equipment cost (Antminer pricing) and 12.5 BTC =
per 10 minutes power cost we are looking at an order of $2 billion of equip=
ment and $0.4 billion a month of power costs (ignoring block reward) to mai=
ntain an attack - easily within means of even a minor government-scale acto=
r.<br><br></div>Is that a plausible scenario, or am i chasing a mirage? If =
it is plausible, what could be done to mitigate it?<br><br><br></div>-Artem=
<br></div>
<br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
bitcoin-dev mailing list<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org">bitcoin-dev@lists.=
<wbr>linuxfoundation.org</a><br>
<a href=3D"https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-dev" =
rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.linuxfoundation.<wbr>org=
/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-<wbr>dev</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>

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