Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System

Nakamoto, Satoshi (2008) Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System. Satoshi Nakamoto.

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Abstract

A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution. Digital signatures provide part of the solution, but the main benefits are lost if a trusted third party is still required to prevent double-spending. We propose a solution to the double-spending problem using a peer-to-peer network. The network timestamps transactions by hashing them into an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work, forming a record that cannot be changed without redoing the proof-of-work. The longest chain not only serves as proof of the sequence of events witnessed, but proof that it came from the largest pool of CPU power. As long as a majority of CPU power is controlled by nodes that are not cooperating to attack the network, they'll generate the longest chain and outpace attackers. The network itself requires minimal structure. Messages are broadcast on a best effort basis, and nodes can leave and rejoin the network at will, accepting the longest proof-of-work chain as proof of what happened while they were gone.

Item Type: Other
Subjects: Main Topics > Bitcoin
Main Topics > Blockchain
Projects > BloSSom 2019
Main Topics > Crypto Currency
Main Topics > Distributed Systems
Main Topics > Economy
Divisions: Computer Science
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email richard.dabels@uni-rostock.de
Date Deposited: 03 Sep 2019 16:32
Last Modified: 03 Sep 2019 16:32
URI: http://blossom.informatik.uni-rostock.de/id/eprint/6

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