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JGarzik
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I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 2:54 pm

Hi! Ladies and gents, ask me anything.

A little bit about myself...
- Coding since the age of 8
- First stock trading at 12, first business at 16
- Coding open source software - GNOME, Linux, cloud and more - for over 20 years
- Discovered bitcoin in the "Great Slashdotting" of July 2010
- Initially a bitcoin skeptic; had to study the software to convince myself it would work.
- Quit 10+ year job at Red Hat to work full time at Bitpay in June 2013
- Recently wound down space project Dunvegan Space Systems; now at stealth bitcoin startup Bloq.
- Bitcoin's greatest legacy is a catalyst, kicking off the current crypto revolution
- It's just the early days of bitcoin. Bitcoin interests me as a base layer for enabling automated AI entities to function in the real world, hiring humans and running corporations via decentralized markets.

Outside of computing, I enjoy "future stuff" - self driving cars, 3D printing, narrow AI - and "outdoorsy stuff" - bicycling, hiking, backpacking, whitewater canoeing.

Twitter @jgarzik

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JordanT
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:00 pm

What do you see as the biggest threat(s) to Bitcoin?

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:01 pm

Hi Jeff,

Thank you so much for your involvement with Bitcoin.

You were one of the first people I ever recall ever seeing in the media talking about Bitcoin.

1. What has you the most excited about Bitcoin today, and is that different than when you first discovered bitcoin?

2. Can you imagine working on something other than Bitcoin in the future, and if so, what?

3. What should we know about Bloq?

4. What's the latest news on the Bitcoin nodes being sent into space?

Everyone else, please share Jeff's tweet:
https://twitter.com/jgarzik/status/662607305838567424
Help spread Bitcoin by linking to everything mentioned here:
topic7039.html


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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:13 pm

Hi Jeff,

I'm a relative newbie to Bitcoin and was wondering if (and when/how) any government could create their own coin (e.g. Fed +IBM) and then, perhaps, MAKE everyone in their territory use it.

I've heard the arguments about "faith" driving adoption but not much in terms of the realities of living in a kleptocracy :shock:

Many Thanks and Great Work!

Jackson

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:14 pm

Why is the BITSAT a thing? I get the desire for research on space, but I don't understand the need for instituting Bitcoin Full node satellites. If Governments didn't want Bitcoin to proliferate, they would work hard to block and prevent all forms of it from working, including sabotaging the Bitsat. I'm not asking as a form of putting it down, I'm seriously scratching my head as to why it seems like a viable idea?


How would you get kids involved into Bitcoin? I think the future is important and you mentioned that you have been coding since you were 8 years old. What was the spark that drove you to seek interest in programming? How would you inspire the youth to take interest in monetary systems? Seems like many of my peers are reaching their 40s or even past their 40s just barely getting into bitcoin and as a result, learning about many other aspects in sciences such as how monetary systems, game theory, economic policy, etc.

Frankenmint

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:17 pm

Jeff -

First let me say thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, it's an honor to communicate with you via this forum.

Q1. With all the hype, ups and down, weirdness and passion, debates and misunderstanding around B(b)itcoin - what do you believe is the best way to get folks to truly understand what it is and how much of an impact it will be in the future?

Q2. Could you tell us a little about Bloq?

Q3. Do you or would you own an Tesla? I am 99% sure I will own a Model 3 when it is released :)

Thanks!

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:24 pm

Hello Jeff,

How do you feel about Flexcap proposal for Block Size Scaling?

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/ca ... 1446747479

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:27 pm

Hi jgarzik

1. How long has bloq been in the making?

2. Will institutions use sidechains for permissioned ledgers, or make their own?

3. Do you think bitcoin (lower b) has a bright future?
Last edited by Patel on Fri Nov 06, 2015 5:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

danster82
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:30 pm

Hi Jeff

Is it correct that under BIP 100 it becomes possible to reduce blocksize by vote even if the network was running at capacity and the situation required larger blocks? And if so what effect would this have if smaller blocksize's were consecutively voted in when larger ones were required for the increased demand?

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:36 pm

Thank you for your time Jeff.

Is BIP100 still under consideration?

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:39 pm

Hi Jeff,

What redundancy are planned for Bitcoin, other than putting a node into space? Let's say all traditional communication are blocked or firewalled, and we want Bitcoin to continue working?

Radio?
send all likes to 15AKoY8reEDneks3f7VH4tazBdCGzU4e2R :D

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:42 pm

Hi Jeff,

What do you think of the recent statement by Coinbase that they are willing to switch to XT?

Does that surprise you?
Do you support such a move?

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:01 pm

Hi Jeff,

In August you tweeted that you were thinking about creating a C++ implementation of the Chainpoint protocol that I and Shawn Wilkinson of Storj coauthored.

https://twitter.com/jgarzik/status/634748949660893184

Are you still thinking about it?

Thanks for the work you do to grow the Bitcoin community.

Wayne
Founder / CEO
Tierion

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:01 pm

What do you see as the biggest threat(s) to Bitcoin?
Complacency! This is the early day of bitcoin, and we should not get stuck - developmentally or psychologically - where we are today. We have so much farther to go.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:04 pm

Hi Jeff,

Thank you so much for your involvement with Bitcoin.

You were one of the first people I ever recall ever seeing in the media talking about Bitcoin.

1. What has you the most excited about Bitcoin today, and is that different than when you first discovered bitcoin?
There are so many things, it's tough to list them all. Bitcoin and blockchain have finally caught on. To me, that means we can start working on What Comes Next, because What Comes Next requires a working, secure bitcoin.
2. Can you imagine working on something other than Bitcoin in the future, and if so, what?

3. What should we know about Bloq?
Definitely staying with bitcoin!

Bloq, my new startup, will be working on bitcoin as it applies to the wider world and real life - the last mile of getting bitcoin and blockchain technology out into the field, into people's hands.
4. What's the latest news on the Bitcoin nodes being sent into space?
Alas, that startup never really made it to launch (har har). There's still hope for placing the bitcoin blockchain with some other space-bound projects.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:06 pm

Hi Jeff,

I'm a relative newbie to Bitcoin and was wondering if (and when/how) any government could create their own coin (e.g. Fed +IBM) and then, perhaps, MAKE everyone in their territory use it.
That's pretty much the US Dollar or another fiat currency, right?

USDcoin is coming.

The best environment for the people is when currencies compete on the free market. When people may freely choose and move between bitcoin, USD, RMB, Euro, Yen and other currencies.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:10 pm

Jeff -
Q1. With all the hype, ups and down, weirdness and passion, debates and misunderstanding around B(b)itcoin - what do you believe is the best way to get folks to truly understand what it is and how much of an impact it will be in the future?
It's tough! The PR pivot due to hype and misunderstandings from "bitcoin" to "blockchain" does help sometimes.

Mostly, it's about education. Just patiently educate.
Q3. Do you or would you own an Tesla? I am 99% sure I will own a Model 3 when it is released :)
I would love to own a Tesla - PS I accept Teslas as gifts! :)

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:12 pm

1. How long has bloq been in the making?
The idea has been around for a while - I grabbed the torch in September and started running with it
2. Will institutions use sidechains for permissioned ledgers, or make their own?
All of the above. They will look at their own privacy and institutional needs.

The important bit is making sure to fully secure with the main blockchain.
3. Do you think bitcoin (lower b) has a bright future?
Bitcoin-the-token will be the gas that powers a decentralized universe of chains.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:14 pm

Hi Jeff

Is it correct that under BIP 100 it becomes possible to reduce blocksize by vote even if the network was running at capacity and the situation required larger blocks? And if so what effect would this have if smaller blocksize's were consecutively voted in when larger ones were required for the increased demand?
That is correct - miners can vote the block size lower - however NOTE - miners can do this today simply by colluding to reduce the block size.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:15 pm

Is BIP100 still under consideration?
BIP 100 will be presented at Scaling Bitcoin in Hong Kong on December 6/7...

...however it seems unlikely to be adopted.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:16 pm

Hi Jeff,

What do you think of the recent statement by Coinbase that they are willing to switch to XT?

Does that surprise you?
Do you support such a move?
It is important for businesses to perform forward planning and publicly voice their desires.

Coinbase will not move without the mass of users/businesses/miners moving - so any statements must be read in the context of what it is possible for Coinbase to do.

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:17 pm

Hi Jeff,

In August you tweeted that you were thinking about creating a C++ implementation of the Chainpoint protocol that I and Shawn Wilkinson of Storj coauthored.
Yes, definitely. The pgdb2 work on my github is a pre-requisite for C++ "hashserv" server. As soon as pgdb2 is working, hashserv can be put in place within 1-2 days.

brodown
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:27 pm

How did it feel perpetrating the most glorious Freudian slip in the history of Bitcoin at the end of the talk in Montreal?

JGarzik
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:29 pm

How did it feel perpetrating the most glorious Freudian slip in the history of Bitcoin at the end of the talk in Montreal?
I think I will never live that down :)

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:36 pm

What are your thoughts on Flexcap proposal for Block Size Scaling?

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:44 pm

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for participating. How much power do the miners have in attacking the network? Either for their own interests or colluding together? What security safeguards are there preventing a majority stake?

Thank you!

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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:46 pm

Thanks for your contributions to resolve the blocksize issue!

What do you think will happen after the Hong Kong Conference regarding Bitcon Core?

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brucefenton
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:57 pm

Hi my friend,

Good to see you.

I didn't know you were a fellow early stock trader!

What is your advice to kids and parents about coding and getting kids interested in computer work? Can you elaborate about your early coding?

Despite lots of efforts we still have a gender bias towards men from young age into adult professional careers. How can we get more young women, kids and female adults to be involved in coding?

Bruce
==============================
brucefenton.com

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Evander Smart
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Re: I'm Jeff Garzik, Bloq co-founder and bitcoin hacker

Fri Nov 06, 2015 5:01 pm

Hi, Jeff, Evander Smart of Coin Telegraph here. Thanks for your insight. I appreciate your work in this space.

Word on the Reddit is that with the hectic week Bitcoin is having in price speculation that blocks are already maxing out as we speak. What would be the timeline for upgrading the block size? Are we 6 months away? 90 days? A year?

I think a doubling every year should work through 2020. Going from 1MB to 8MB sounds like trouble.
Maybe 2 MB next year, 4 MB in 2017, 8 MB in 2018, and so on......

Evander
Evander

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