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Crypto Forks

Do you ever wonder what a fork actually is in cryptocurrency? What is the difference between a hard and a soft fork, and why does it matter? Why do people make such a big deal over a fork in the road? Imagine standing at the edge of a vast, digital city, where the streets and intersections beneath your feet are the possible paths a network could travel. Now, envision this gridiron intersecting with these countless routes, turns, and junctions, each representing a potential direction for a network. Forks, in this context, are junctures where the community decides which path to take, shaping the future of the network.

This article was created based on insights from a thread posted by Shai Deshe Wyborski on X/Twitter.

https://x.com/DesheShai/status/1764610476749574498?s=20

Deciphering Forks

At its essence, a fork represents a divergence in the network, a moment of decision that can alter the network’s trajectory. But not all forks are created equal; they come in different forms, namely ‘soft’ and ‘hard,’ each with its own implications and outcomes.

The Subtlety of Soft Forks

Soft forks in crypto can be likened to software updates on your smartphone — they roll out new functionalities or corrections without interfering with your current applications or data. When applied to a network, a soft fork narrows the criteria for a valid block, ensuring the network can function smoothly without mandating an update from every node.

An excellent example of a soft fork is the Taproot update in Bitcoin, designed to augment privacy and efficiency without necessitating an upgrade from all participants in the network. Soft forks achieve this through backward-compatible changes, meaning the network remains operational even as some nodes operate on legacy versions. The Taproot enhancements, for instance, aimed at optimizing block space utilization and boosting privacy for intricate transactions, were deliberately engineered so that nodes yet to be updated could still validate and relay transactions. They would, however, not benefit from the new Taproot features. The uninterrupted functionality of the network following such an update is contingent upon a substantial majority of miners embracing the latest rules. This consensus among miners helps solidify the new rules as the standard, ensuring network coherence and sidestepping possible short-lived forks. The broad acceptance of the Taproot update by the mining sector and the broader user base exemplifies the communal collaboration pivotal to the triumph of soft fork integrations.

The Power of Hard Forks

On the other hand, hard forks are the equivalent of opting for a whole new operating system. They introduce changes that make new blocks incompatible with the old rules, necessitating a unanimous update across all nodes to prevent a split in the network. This is where the network can truly fork, creating parallel chains if not everyone agrees to the update. Hard forks can be deliberate, aiming to add significant new features or address fundamental issues, or they can be contentious, leading to a split in the community and the birth of a new cryptocurrency.

The creation of Ethereum Classic from Ethereum, following a dispute over how to handle the DAO hack, and the birth of Bitcoin Cash from Bitcoin due to disagreements over block size and Segwit2X are evidence of the profound impact hard forks can have. These events are major technical updates and can be pivotal moments for a community to reflect on deeper philosophical and strategic divides.

New Coins?

The emergence of new cryptocurrencies from hard forks is a phenomenon fueled by disagreement. When a significant portion of the community — miners, developers, or users — chooses not to adopt the new rules, the network can split into two distinct paths: one that follows the old rules and one that embarks on a new direction with the updated protocol. This is how new coins are born, carrying with them the legacy of their origin chain but diverging in vision and functionality.

The Effects of Forks

The implications of forks extend far beyond the technical, influencing everything from market dynamics to community trust and regulatory perspectives. They can lead to uncertainty and volatility in the short term as stakeholders adjust to the new status quo. However, they also embody the decentralized, democratic essence of crypto technology, where the community has the power to shape its future.

Navigating the Forked Roads

Regarding Kaspa’s evolutionary path, the emphasis is on proactive hard forks — thoughtful, anticipated, well-planned upgrades designed to enhance the network’s capabilities, security, and efficiency. These are not emergency measures or divisive decisions but more like the regular updates you’d expect from any evolving software system. Proactive hard forks are the project’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, ensuring that the network remains cutting-edge and can adapt to the ever-changing demands of decentralized finance.

The key to navigating these updates smoothly lies in the preparation and communication strategies employed by the Kaspa community, volunteers, and developers. The network ensures seamless transitions by keeping all stakeholders informed and engaged — miners, developers, and users alike. This collaborative approach minimizes disruptions and reinforces the community’s trust and action in the project’s direction.

Moreover, proactive hard forks offer an opportunity to introduce new features and optimizations that can significantly enhance the network’s performance and user experience. These can range from scalability improvements and increased transaction speeds to more robust security measures, all of which contribute to the overall health and competitiveness of Kaspa. i.e., Rust rewrite!

These planned hard forks should be viewed not with apprehension but as milestones in Kaspa’s ongoing development. They are clear indicators of a dynamic, forward-thinking project that is not content with the status quo but is constantly striving for excellence. This proactive stance on network upgrades is a positive signal for the community and users alike, showcasing Kaspa’s dedication to enabling a resilient, innovative, and future-proof ecosystem.

Tip: Always stay informed and actively participate in your crypto community’s discussions to better understand and navigate the impacts of forks and the network’s future.

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As the final curtain fell on 2022, giving way to the dawn of 2023, Kaspa emerged not merely as another player in crypto but as a burgeoning juggernaut equipped with sci-fi futuristic blockDAG technology. A game-changing architecture ready to shake the norm of traditional blockchain foundations. Its ambition was audacious, aiming to tackle the notorious blockchain trilemma by striking a delicate equilibrium among speed, security, and scalability.

In those embryonic days of 2023, the landscape of the Kaspa community bore a starkly different vibe compared to its later evolution. This initial cadre was a tight-knit crew of tech enthusiasts and forward-thinkers, united by a shared vision of what Kaspa could be — as opposed to the more moment-focused community we see today. The ripple effects of the Ethereum merge were still reverberating, setting the stage for a significant migration of GPU miners in search of fresh pastures following their upheaval. At the same time, the early murmurs of FPGA miners began to surface, hinting at the rise of a new titan in the mining domain and heralding a seismic shift in hashrate and exposure.

This era was pivotal for myriad reasons. It witnessed watershed moments like the Rust rewrite crowdfund — a move that signified more than an upgrade; it was the metamorphosis of Kaspa’s soul. The unveiling and crowdfunding of the DAG KNIGHT, a protocol that will catapult Kaspa into the forefront of cryptocurrency and computer science breakthroughs. The foray into its first mainstream exchange listing with MEXC underscored the community’s unwavering dedication to charting new courses for Kaspa. Amidst a sea of speculations about its path forward, forecasts remained as erratic as the markets in the unpredictable world of cryptocurrency. I don’t know if many foresaw Kaspa’s miraculous success within the parameters of this year. I know me and my crystal ball didn’t see it.

Early Ambitions

As 2023 kicked off, Kaspa hit the ground running, each step imbued with deliberate vigor. The community swelled with miners, traders, enthusiasts, and holders, each adding their unique spark to the Kaspa macrocosm. This surge brought an urgent call for more platforms like MEXC to trade and engage with Kaspa, setting the stage for an unprecedented push toward new exchange listings.

Petitions for Kaspa’s inclusion flooded the inboxes of virtually every top 50 exchange listed on CoinMarketCap. Also important to note that, during this phase, Kaspa’s crypto ranking was only accurately recognized on CoinGecko. A detail that only stoked the community’s fire, turning the quest for proper listing on CoinMarketCap into a symbol of broader recognition and legitimacy.

The Kaspa community, a close-knit and strategic force, dove into a series of crowdfunded campaigns, aiming to secure spots on key exchanges like Uphold, Bitget, and KuCoin. Integrating Kaspa onto these platforms was no small feat, demanding extensive time, technical support, marketing push, and manpower. More than just milestones, the listings were crucial in boosting Kaspa’s accessibility and liquidity, both vital for the lifeblood of any crypto. Especially one that prioritizes operating as a decentralized everyday currency.

An innovative turn in branding and marketing was the birth of a crowdfund spearheaded by the @Rhubarbarian. Under his leadership, this fund was dedicated to amplifying Kaspa’s marketing outreach and broadening its horizon. The Community Marketing Fund (CMF) was focused on fueling Grassroots and Organic (GRO) marketing activities and strategic boots-on-the-ground operations, underlining the community’s commitment to carving a prominent space for Kaspa worldwide.

A standout moment during this period was the Tangem and OneKey initiatives. Given Kaspa’s roots in community governance and crowdfunded nature, the constant drumbeat of fundraising began to weigh on the community. Proposals seemed to be in a never-ending loop, vying for support. Amidst this, however, the ecosystem was starting to thrive. A creative solution emerged in the form of pre-orders for Tangem and OneKey, not only easing the fundraising challenge but also addressing a crucial need — the development and dissemination of hard wallets, bridging a vital gap in cold storage solutions.

Mid-Year Progress

As 2023 reached its midpoint, Kaspa’s trajectory was nothing short of impressive. This period was dotted with significant milestones, vividly depicting Kaspa’s technological evolution and deepening community engagement.

During this period, a significant transformation unfolded within Kaspa’s mining framework, marking a new era in its technological evolution. The shift from GPU/FPGA mining to the cutting-edge ASIC miners developed by IceRiver was a revolutionary change. This move towards ASIC technology drew significant industry attention and marked a remarkable turn in the mining community’s approach. Contrary to expectations of opposition, many GPU miners enthusiastically embraced the ASIC miners. This transition was a spectacle of technological advancement, with the dedicated hardware bringing impressive gains in hashrate and efficiency. And still is.

To bridge the gap between the traditional GPU mining contingent and the emerging ASIC sphere, the establishment of new mining pools and comprehensive tutorials for solo mining ventures assisted in this transition. These efforts did more than expand the mining options within Kaspa’s ecosystem; they demonstrated Kaspa’s adherence to maintaining a decentralized network, ensuring that the mining process remained accessible and efficient for both new and seasoned miners alike. This pivotal shift diversified Kaspa’s mining landscape and solidified its reputation as a forward-thinking and adaptable community and tech.

Another stride forward was Kaspa’s integration with platforms like Chainge Finance, Zelcore, CoinPal, Now Payments, NowNodes, etc. highlighting its growing versatility and interoperability. Bringing Kaspa’s adaptability and potential for broader application to more financial and tech sectors.

This period also witnessed more crowdfunding endeavors, mainly aimed at developing a browser wallet and securing more exchange listings. Emphasizing the community’s relentless drive to enhance Kaspa’s reach and usability. The active community participation in these crowdfunding efforts was that original dedication to the Kaspa promise and their resolve to see it excel in the dynamic cryptocurrency arena.

Crossing the halfway point of 2023, the ambassador program and the CMF began exhibiting its GrassRoots, Organic marketing (GRO) strength. A few Ambassadors began to initiate live events, educating people across various regions, cultures, and nations, promoting global inclusivity.

End-Year Achievements

As 2023 wound down, the progress Kaspa had made was not just visible but strikingly innovative. The year’s closing chapters were defined by several key developments.

The launch of Wrapped Kaspa (wKAS), which was solely on ETH, now links Kaspa with other major blockchain networks like Polygon and BNB Chain. This breakthrough amplified Kaspa’s interoperability, enabling it to integrate and interact within larger ecosystems. Wrapped Kaspa’s entry into these networks opened doors to diverse opportunities in DeFi and beyond, carving out a path for broader adoption and enhanced recognition in the expansive crypto community.

Another noteworthy development was the debut of the Kaspium mobile wallet. This move marked Kaspa’s venture into mobile technology, dramatically widening its audience. The Kaspium wallet brought together ease of use, robust security features, and smooth transaction processes, making Kaspa’s advanced technology readily accessible to a broader, mobile-oriented demographic.

The birth of the Kaspa Ambassador Program earlier in the year quickly matured in Q4, from a few regional ambassadors to over 30 reps spanning the globe! They spearheaded many local meetups and represented Kaspa at conferences in places like France, Nigeria, the USA, Canada, Australia, etc.  Each was equipped through the Community Marketing Fund (CMF) and supported by the marketing team with promo, merch and educational tools like the now, infamous Battle Cards and Kaspa slide decks.

During Yom Kippur, the Kaspa network faced a cunningly timed dust attack. This challenge turned into a demonstration of its resilience and adaptability. This attack, synchronized with a key religious observance, was not merely a test of the network’s capacity but a calculated strike. In response, the Kaspa team, undeterred by limited resources and unfavorable timing, rallied with rapid innovation and cohesive community effort. With their exceptional problem-solving acuity, they crafted a multifaceted defence strategy. This strategy, carefully balancing the need to avoid a network fork and minimize user disruption, involved implementing new transaction policies and prioritizing established transactions, thus steering the network skillfully through a potentially crippling hard drive crisis.

Technological advancements kept pace with continuous enhancements to Rusty Kaspa and the Kaspa Go network. These updates focused on improving the network’s capacity for handling large transaction volumes, ensuring scalability and efficiency. This relentless pursuit of technological refinement positioned Kaspa at the forefront of blockchain innovation, showcasing its agility and responsiveness to the evolving market demands.

As the year drew to a close, Kaspa’s accomplishments and commitment to continual innovation and growth reinforced its technological infrastructure. Also broadened its appeal and utility, cementing its status as a significant contender in the greater cryptosphere. Kaspa’s journey through 2023, collective vision, technological excellence, and community-driven efforts laid a solid foundation for its future endeavors.

The Future

As Kaspa strides into the future, it carries the same steadfast resolve for innovation and a booming role in the DeFi world. The roadmap unfurling ahead is dotted with critical developments, notably starting with the eagerly awaited launch of Rusty Kaspa public Testnet 11. This release is poised to be a transformative juncture in Kaspa’s journey, bringing substantial improvements and fresh functionalities.

Elevating transaction handling capabilities remains at the forefront. To achieve the status of an everyday currency, swift and efficient transaction processing is increasingly sought-after. Kaspa is committed to expanding the horizons of transaction throughput, especially in BPS. This ambition encompasses technological strides and network stability and security assurance — pivotal elements in preserving user trust and satisfaction.

The vision for Kaspa’s future has always been about a nurturing, inclusive, and vibrant community. The community has been the cornerstone of Kaspa’s progression and triumphs, making its continued support and growth essential. This includes widening outreach, enhancing platforms for community engagement, and ensuring that community insights and participation remain central in guiding Kaspa’s direction.

Peering further into the horizon, the roadmap harbors ambitious plans for the integration of sophisticated smart contract functionalities. These advancements aim to broaden Kaspa’s utility, positioning it as a versatile platform for many applications. Additionally, increasing the blocks per second past 10 BPS, aspiring to keep the position as the fastest PoW network in existence.

The highly anticipated DAG KNIGHT protocol remains the summit objective and significant future goal for Kaspa. This protocol is expected to introduce a novel layer of innovation and efficiency to the network, further reinforcing Kaspa’s goal for 100 BPS and the first parameterless network.

Kaspa’s future is shaped by a trajectory of ongoing growth, cutting-edge technological development, and deep community involvement. With a clear vision and an ambitious set of objectives, Kaspa stands ready to meet and surpass the anticipations of its community and stakeholders in the blockchain sphere.

Not all was mentioned as it would have been a book!! But all efforts are greatly appreciated and celebrated!

The post Kaspa 2023 – Past, Present, and Future appeared first on Kaspa.

The Primordial Data

Kaspa’s inception was not only a winding and intricate journey but also one marked by exploration, confusion, and experimentation. In the very beginning, even fundamental aspects such as installing and running a node or mining were bewildering. The developers had to communicate constantly through platforms like Discord, explaining every step and every detail. It was raw, scrappy, and at times, chaotic.

In its early stages, Kaspa’s progress resembled a child learning to walk, faltering and unsure, with foundational software that stood on shaky ground. Few developers could grasp the complexities of this new terrain, and no ecosystem developers were willing to take the plunge. New versions of mining software were frequently updated, adding to the already unstable environment.

Early Struggles and the Drive for Innovation

The team’s primary aim was not about aiming for a high market cap or capitulating to fears; instead, it was about courageously maintaining stability amidst the chaos. And to build a network that was supposed to be unbuildable. January 2022 presented itself as an especially taxing month, with nodes struggling to manage three days’ worth of transaction data. Many fell out of sync, and some transactions failed to register on the ledger. However, this was not a significant concern, as the network’s underlying structure remained robust and verifiable, and more pressing matters were at hand.

Despite these obstacles, the developers’ unrelenting spirit fueled Kaspa’s evolution. Setbacks turned into stepping stones, as they were more than merely surviving; they were laying down a path filled with innovation and daring explorations. The struggles, breakthroughs, and exhilarating yet exhausting journey have become integral to what defines Kaspa today.

The individuals behind Kaspa understood that failures would be essential learning experiences. They confronted technological immaturity, misconceptions, and roadblocks, which instead of hindering them, fueled their creative process. This led to innovative solutions that set Kaspa apart from other digital currencies.

Kaspa started as a small, committed crew working for years to overcome the theoretical and practical challenges of creating a true Block Directed Acyclic Graph (BlockDAG) system. They fought relentlessly through the dark, stumbling upon bugs and an unending cycle of testnets, weighed down by the feeling of missing the technological train as attention shifted to proof of stake, DeFi, and NFTs.

From the very beginning, Kaspa’s genesis was born from chaos. With monetary resources dwindling, the immaturity of optical ASIC development, and a business plan teetering on failure, the decision to initiate a fair launch emerged as a desperate yet inspired attempt to keep the dream alive. The team employed at DAGlabs chose to place their trust in the core proof-of-work (PoW) community, clinging to a conviction that their ideas were far too valuable to abandon. This belief propelled them into the unknown as they embarked on daring experiments with unnamed algorithms, untethered from the constraints of existing mining technology. It was a last-ditch effort to let their creation live on, a gambit born from the chaos, and a defining moment in Kaspa’s genesis.

Embracing Chaos Amidst the Innovation

Kaspa’s continuous journey was guided by innovation, a readiness to challenge conventional wisdom, and a willingness to push boundaries. The early days on Discord were frantic, plagued by seemingly endless bugs, followed by neverending debugging and a constant need to educate and inform the community. Building something unique in the face of adversity and confusion became the team’s defining characteristic, embodying the thrilling yet demanding journey that defines Kaspa.

The shift brought about another hurdle: the need to solo mine after a hard fork to stabilize the network. A community poll decided to burn over 11 million KAS, with 40% of the community choosing this path. The commitment to this promise further solidified Kaspa’s dedication to transparent, community-driven decision-making.

Around two months later, anomalies emerged within the network, requiring immediate investigation and understanding. A detailed examination led to crafting an urgent patch, enhancing synchronization, and handling the network’s intricate structure. The positive impact of this fix led to deeper insights into the system’s architecture, albeit at the cost of superficial transaction data, saving the network and opening up more avenues for growth and innovation.

The Present and Future

Kaspa’s story is one of perseverance, creativity, and resolve. From the intention to develop ASICs to the daring decision to fair-launch, the journey was filled with uncertainty, trials, and enlightening realizations. The early days were turbulent, and the complications were not mere roadblocks but rites of passage that shaped Kaspa’s growth, laying the foundation for resilience, inventiveness, and steadfast pursuit of excellence.

Through trials and successes, Kaspa’s evolution stands as a symbol of not just success but endurance, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to a bold vision. The narrative also serves as a meaningful reminder of the scrappy and turbulent beginning, where uncertainty reigned, and every step forward was an adventure in itself. The raw energy and determination that fueled Kaspa’s early days continue to inspire its pursuit of innovation and excellence, along with embracing the unavoidable new challenges.

Tip: Kaspa’s journey may not have followed a straight line, but its enduring success is rooted in embracing its chaotic beginnings and remembering the lessons learned along the way.

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The Nakamoto Ethos a Transparent and Inclusive Launch

DAGLabs and the Birth of Kaspa

Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, introduced the concept of a “fair launch” in cryptocurrency. This concept implies that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the creation of a new cryptocurrency from the beginning. It ensures that those who create or support the project don’t receive any special privileges, there is no pre-sale or pre-mining of coins, and no one gets early access. To fully understand how the fair launch of Kaspa, a new cryptocurrency, took place, we need to delve into its roots, examine its founding principles, and explore how these were communicated to the public.

In 2021, DAGLabs faced hurdles due to the immaturity of optical mining hardware and insufficient funds. But their endeavors weren’t in vain, as the research and development performed under DAGLabs laid the groundwork for the inception of Kaspa, a novel proof-of-work cryptocurrency reflecting a generalized Nakamoto Consensus.

Plans of a Public Launch

The public launch of Kaspa was unveiled comprehensively, underscoring the commencement and growth of this innovative blockDAG cryptocurrency. This public disclosure was encapsulated in a Medium post by Yonatan Sompolinsky, published on September 21st, 2021. This document marked a crucial point in Kaspa’s journey, indicating a transparent dialogue with the public about planning the launch of this novel project and the beginning of its developmental journey.

Prior to this post, Sompolinsky engaged with the community on Twitter. On April 12th, 2021, he broadcasted a Tweet regarding the visual success of the Kaspa testnet. This significant event marked the beginning of the open conversation about Kaspa’s journey in the public eye.

As the dialog on Twitter sustained momentum, Kaspa started gaining attention in the larger finance domain. Investing.com, a well-known international investment news outlet, published on April 26th, 2021, announcing the official debut of Kaspa, a product of an Israeli startup. In a parallel development, Finance Magnates presented a piece on the emergence of Kaspa on the following day, underlining its prospective impact on the market.

Kaspa’s fair launch officially occurred on November 7th, 2021, without any pre-mine or pre-sale.

The Fair Launch

In a demonstration of transparency, Yonatan Sompolinsky documented the fair launch in “Kaspa Launch Plan (responding to reality).” This piece underscored the fair launch concept of Kaspa, marking a pivotal moment for cryptocurrency. He asserted the project’s independence, reiterating that it’s a community-oriented initiative. Such transparency and a community-centric approach reaffirmed the fair launch ethos of the Kaspa project.

On November 26th, 2021, Kaspa was operational and performing as designed. The success of their launch was reinforced through an announcement on BitcoinTalk, a popular cryptocurrency forum. This communication kickstarted Kaspa’s fair launch campaign, offering potential participants deeper insights into the project’s offerings and ensuring transparency.

It’s crucial to mention that throughout the Pre-Deflationary Phase (lasting six months until May 8th, 2022), Kaspa launched without a marketing team or the budget to hire one. It operated with a minimal crew of researchers, developers, and enthusiasts who relied on public announcements and social media platforms for organic growth and building a user base. The Kaspa community regularly updated about the project’s progress on various platforms, including Discord, Twitter, Telegram, GitHub, and Reddit, maintaining engagement and transparency.

True to the principles of a fair launch, there was no exclusive token distribution during Kaspa’s official launch. Everyone was simultaneously given equal access to the project, including DAGLabs and its employees, reaffirming Kaspa’s dedication to fairness.

Fair Launch = Crowdfunding

Given that Kaspa was launched fairly, there was no initial budget or centralized authority with funding reserves. As such, the community had no choice but to implement a crowdfunding model, which continues to be the bedrock of their funding infrastructure. Without significant investors or institutional backing, Kaspa relied on a system involving multi-signature wallets and treasurers elected by the community. This decentralized funding strategy empowers community members and fosters a sense of collective ownership and responsibility. This crowdfunding model enhances community governance and encourages transparent, democratic participation among its members.

Community Driven from the Beginning

Additionally, the community-controlled Kaspa decided a day before the launch to use kHeavyHash as the network’s mining algorithm. This algo was selected to prevent potential dominance by advanced hardware such as GPUs and FPGAs; the algorithm was slightly modified for CPU mining exclusively. This decision resonated with Kaspa’s commitment to a democratic and inclusive launch. Over time, GPUs and FPGAs were incorporated to further the distribution and decentralization of Kaspa, which recently began transitioning to ASIC miners.

The sequence of these events, the consistent open communication, equal coin distribution, and lack of paid marketing underline Kaspa’s dedication to a fair launch. The detailed project announcements on various public platforms solidify Kaspa’s fairness, marking it as a role model for cryptocurrency fair launches unseen since Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin. Kaspa’s approach also influenced Nexa to adopt a similar fair launch.

Tip: For more details and information on Kaspas fair launch visit: https://wiki.kaspa.org/en/faq

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The post Kaspa’s Fair Launch appeared first on Kaspa.

The Bitcoin Bottleneck

The Bitcoin network is facing unprecedented congestion, with a staggering 390,000 unconfirmed transactions waiting for confirmation, according to Bitcoin.com. This bottleneck has led to a 343% increase in transaction fees over the past 11 days, creating frustration for users who cannot complete their transactions in a timely manner. The main reasons for this congestion include the surge in minting and transferring of Ordinal inscriptions and BRC20 tokens, which have flooded the network, pushing the limitations of Bitcoin’s blockchain technology.

As a result of this congestion, there is currently a 16-hour wait time to transact on Bitcoin at the lowest fee. To put this into perspective, it would take 16 hours to include approximately 400,000 transactions on the Bitcoin ledger. Amid this turmoil, Kaspa emerges as an alternative immune to these issues. Kaspa, a blazingly fast, decentralized, proof-of-work cryptocurrency, is designed and proven to overcome the scalability and congestion problems that plague Bitcoin.

Kaspa’s architecture is built to address the limitations of Bitcoin’s blockchain technology and focus on network speed. At its core is the GhostDAG protocol, a directed acyclic graph (DAG) structure that allows for the simultaneous processing of multiple blocks. This innovative protocol eliminates the need for a linear blockchain, resulting in faster confirmations and higher throughput. Whereas Bitcoin can only allow a single block at a time.

Currently, Kaspa achieves a block time of 1 block per second, significantly faster than Bitcoin’s 10-minute block time. To put this into perspective, Kaspa processes 60 blocks per minute, 3,600 blocks per hour, and 86,400 blocks per day. In comparison, Bitcoin processes just 6 blocks per hour and 144 blocks per day. This stark contrast in block time highlights the immense speed advantage Kaspa holds over Bitcoin.

On Kaspa, processing the same 400,000 transactions clogging the Bitcoin network would take only 22 minutes. This is the same amount of time for just two Bitcoin blocks to be mined. And this is Kaspa’s current specs; once the Rust rewrite is complete, the network can expect up to a 30x boost in network speeds.

Kaspa’s unique design ensures its network is more resilient against congestion than Bitcoin. By employing the GhostDAG protocol, Kaspa can process multiple blocks adaptably and simultaneously, increasing the overall throughput of the network. This approach allows Kaspa to maintain fast transaction confirmations even during periods of high network activity, avoiding the bottlenecks experienced by the Bitcoin network.

Kaspa is constantly improving its technology and expanding its features to offer a better experience for its users. One of the most exciting future developments is the Rust rewrite, now live and in Alpha. Once thoroughly tested and released, Kaspa will run on a much faster and more efficient codebase allowing for a massive increase in speeds. Another upgrade in the works for Kaspa is the integration of DAGKnight. This protocol upgrade aims to upgrade the current protocol and enhance the network’s capabilities. With DAGKnight, Kaspa will become the first parameterless cryptocurrency, self-adapting to network health and latency. This increased adaptability will further solidify Kaspa’s position as a fast and efficient alternative to Bitcoin.

Another critical aspect of Kaspa that sets it apart from other cryptocurrencies is that it solves the blockchain trilemma, not just claims of a solution but actually makes the trilemma a problem of the past. All this speed and scalability without sacrificing decentralization or security, both of which are Bitcoin’s two main claims of fame. However, the scalability has been revealed to be a significant weakness. Does addressing only two areas of the trilemma matter if your network slows to a crawl or halts altogether? I guess time will tell.

As the Bitcoin network struggles to cope with overwhelming unconfirmed transactions and surging fees, Kaspa is a compelling alternative. With its innovative GhostDAG protocol, rapid block time, and focus on network speed, Kaspa is well-equipped to handle the challenges of the global market and the future of finance. Furthermore, the upcoming integration of DAGKnight will further enhance Kaspa’s capabilities, making it an even more attractive option for users seeking fast, cost-effective, and secure transactions. By providing a scalable and efficient solution, Kaspa ensures that users can enjoy fast, cost-effective transactions without worrying about network congestion.

The cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve and grow, Kaspa is poised to stand out as a viable and promising alternative to not only Bitcoin but currency in general. Its innovative technology, adaptability, network speed, and decentralization make Kaspa a strong contender in the future of finance. Moreover, with its ability to overcome the scalability and congestion issues that have plagued Bitcoin, Kaspa offers a bright future for users seeking everyday, reliable transactions… and in an instant.

Tip: With it’s generalized Nakamoto Consensus and firm stance in the Satoshi ethos, Kaspa really is Bitcoin 2.0

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Find me on the Kaspa discord — Bubblegum Lightning

The post Kaspa: The Solution to Bitcoin appeared first on Kaspa.

The History and Intricacies of the BlockDAG

This week’s Weekly Crypto Update Twitter Space with Dr. Martin Hiesboeck/ @MHiesboeck welcomes Yonatan Sompolinsky/@hashdag, the mastermind behind Kaspa will guide us through the fascinating history and intricacies of blockDAG technology. BlockDAG, or a Directed Acyclic Graph of Blocks, is an innovative data structure offering a more efficient and flexible solution to digital transactions, addressing the blockchain trilemma challenges of scalability, decentralization, and security inherent in traditional crypto technology. Sompolinsky’s Kaspa exemplifies the potential of blockDAG in revolutionizing the cryptocurrency space by providing faster, more secure transactions with lower fees.

During the conversation, Sompolinsky will explain the core principles of blockDAG and how it differs from conventional blockchain technology. Then, delve into the origins of blockDAG, which can be traced back to Sompolinsky and Aviv Zohar’s 2016 paper, leading to the development of the first blockDAG protocols, GHOST, and SPECTRE. Also, they may discuss the implications of blockDAG for the future of cryptocurrency and the challenges this groundbreaking technology faces.

Tune in on April 13th at 1:00 PM EST for an insightful discussion with Yonatan Sompolinsky of Kaspa as Dr. Martin Hiesboeck explores the fascinating world of blockDAG and its potential to transform the digital currency landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field and gain a deeper understanding of cryptocurrency and Kaspa.

Weekly Crypto Update: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1LyGBqrdXBpKN

Tip: Dr. Martin Hiesboeck is the Head of Research at Uphold and the founder of AlpineBlock and Natoura.

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TELEGRAM

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Find me on the Kaspa discord — Bubblegum Lightning

The post Weekly Crypto Update Featuring Yonatan Sompolinsky appeared first on Kaspa.

Friday, March 3rd, 5:00 PM EST — Hosted by @BubblegumLtng

Kaspa Twitter Space

@Kaspa_HypeMan — Wolfie and @BubblegumLtng are having an unofficial Kaspa Twitter Space on Fri, March 3rd at 5:00 PM EST. The space will be approximately one hour, with the first half covering an interview-style updates of Kaspa, with the remainder of the time open to the audience for questions.

Please be aware that this Twitter Space is unofficial and presented by Kaspa community contributors, not the development team. With that in mind, neither contributor is deeply involved in a technical coding aspect. However, the audience will have developers and coders to assist with questions. Whether it’s the day of or after, your questions will be addressed.

Hope to see you there!

TWITTER SPACE — https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1jMKgLYBzOwGL?s=20

Tip: This will be Kaspa Currency’s second Twitter Space!

KASPA

KASPA WIKI

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TELETYPE

DISCORD

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REDDIT

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Find me on the Kaspa discord — Bubblegum Lightning

The post Twitter Space — Updates & AMA appeared first on Kaspa.

Thanks for hanging out with us!

Guest @Kaspa_HypeMan — Wolfie and host @BubblegumLtng held an unofficial Kaspa Twitter Space on Fri, Feb 17. The space lasted approximately one hour, with the first half covering an interview-style overview of Kaspa, with the remainder of the time open to the audience for questions.

Please be aware that this Twitter Space was unofficial and presented by Kaspa community contributors, not the development team. With that in mind, neither contributor is deeply involved in a technical coding aspect.

Tip: This was Kaspa Currency’s first Twitter Space!

KASPA.ORG

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Feel free to comment and/or ask any questions.

You can also find me on the Kaspa discord — Bubblegum Lightning

The post Kaspa Twitter Space Recap appeared first on Kaspa.

October 31st,2022 — Yonatan Sompolinsky presented the DAGKnight consensus mechanism presentation at UC Berkeley.

This presentation was given on the first day of the Crypto Economics Security Conference at UC Berkeley, held from October 31st,2022, to November 2nd, 2022.

Yonatan Sompolinsky shares the DAGKnight consensus with the world, its purpose, and its future on Kaspa.

More on DAGKnight: https://medium.com/kaspa-currency/the-dag-knight-protocol-elevating-kaspa-13bf8b9cfeec

Tip: UC Berkeley is renowned for offering highly-pursued programs in computer science, biological sciences, and the social sciences.

UC BERKELEY

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Comment below or find me on the Kaspa discord — Bubblegum Lightning

The post DAGKnight Presentation at UC Berkeley appeared first on Kaspa.