SegWit and technologies built on it are grossly oversold
Like all good lies, there is a kernel of truth behind them. However, like all good lie, they omit or distort some specific information which are key. Like all good lie, they get repeated so often that they may end up looking like truth. Let’s go over some of them.
SegWit solves malleability
SegWit only solve malleability for transaction which spend ONLY SegWit UTXO. All other transactions remains malleable. This fix is enough to enable technologies like Lightning network. This comes at the cost of reduced fungibility, because only some coins can be locked in the lighting network.
SegWit solves quadratic hashing
SegWit solves quadratic hashing for some specific transactions just like it solves malleability for some specific transactions. However, quadratic hashing is an attack vector and solving it in some specific case is about as useful as being partially on birth control: none at all. SegWit absolutely fails to solve anything related to quadratic hashing.
SegWit allows blocks up to 4MB
That is technically true. However, while block can be up to 4MB, this is not really what people require bigger block were asking for. To illustrate, let’s imagine your friend got a kid and tells you he needs a bigger car than his 2 seaters. How do you think he will react when you propose him a car that is twice as big, but still only has 2 seats? Well that’s what some are trying to sell to you.
Considering current usages, we can estimate that SegWit will increase the amount of transaction which can be processed by a factor of 1.7x to 2x. The fact that SegWit allows blocks up to 4MB while delivering only a 2X capacity increase is not something to be proud of.
Full essay here: https://www.deadalnix.me/2017/02/27/seg ... -oversold/