actually, i do think it is possible to do it with current coinbase scripting, wait for event like winner pays in x amount to SatoshiNakamoto send amount to same address
when api is done, this could be done with a simple routine to check for x amount send to SatoshiNakamoto address, then release funds to same address, or sending address, or sign btc address with SatoshiNakamoto key but that would require a modification to the van gen to deal with that part, else we end up poluting the blockchain more than needed.
Neat idea.
However, the only reason I'm going to be a dog with a bone about this is because of the collateral requirement to participate in the finding Satoshi van gen adventure.
COLLATERALTo participate you need to send 500 SPR with a signed message to say that you are participating. Can we automate the validation of finding satoshi van gen with someone who has complied with the collateral requirements?
Remember, if you set-up the collateral and then remove all the coins, you don't get the prize fund, even if you go on to find the correct van gen.
NETWORK EFFECTI've been thinking about ways to create the network effect with this van gen idea.
So far, I'm leaning towards having the collateral reduce when the price of SPR reaches a certain point. For example, when SPR reaches $1/SPR, the requirement to use 500 SPR will be $1,500. That would potentially put people off.
So why not make the collateral start at 500 SPR, but then max out at $500 or $200 equivalent in SPR. So if SPR ever reachED $50 / SPR, you would only need 10 SPR.
That way people are incentivised to help promote SPR and the van gen competition so that they can release some of their collateral. Maybe always keep a floor of 100 SPR, that way we should always have a sybil attack prevention mechanism even against long-term holders.
GIMMICKI have also been thinking about whether this is just a gimmick. I don't think it is, provided we have the collateral requirement.
* The thing about masternodes / servicenodes is that we want people to participate who have some idea about running a servicenode. Sure we might make things easier, but people still need to have some idea about DDoS attacks, setting up VPSs, etc.
A simple van gen idea gets us a very simple way for people who are not technical at all to participate in securing our SPR network. We can say to people: "If you are participating in the van gen competition, please also ensure that you open these ports so you can help the network" - i.e. SPR will get an army of full nodes and average Joe in the street can take part, how decentralized is that!
* Then there is the network effect. As the prize fund builds up, the general media and not just the crypto media will be writing about this competition. We will get a ton of free PR. If you look at Dash, there are proposals to use some of the coinbase rewards to pay for adverts, we will get them for free.
* Then there is the data on lotteries. People spend 10 times more on lotteries than on music. That means that music is more of a gimmick than having something with lottery like features (but is not, dear judge, a lottery).
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.12040096SERVICE NODESThe implicit deal with SPR is that masternodes will be created and they will get a big percentage of the coinbase rewards.
Had Mr.Spread still been around, I'm sure we would have had masterndodes up and running. So, from my point of view, miners have enjoyed extra rewards for at least 4 months.
I'd like to propose that 30% of mining rewards go to setting up this van gen competition, with that 30% reduced down as service nodes go to mainnet.
If for any reason there is a problem with the competition, we can always distribute these coins back across all the live servicenodes.