Topic: BitLotto - and obtaining random numbers from within the Bitcoin network - page 2. (Read 2700 times)
April 09, 2011, 12:12:42 PM
It's not easy to influence, even if there is no random number. The attacker would have to have more than 50% of the Bitcoin network's CPU to have any reasonable chance of influencing the result.
April 09, 2011, 07:09:48 AM
1. Post the hash of a random number publicly. It is not important that your random number is random, only that it is secret.
2. Pick some block number when the lottery will end. Take the hash of that block and hash it with the random number picked earlier. This is the random data you will use for the draw.
3. Post your random number.
2. Pick some block number when the lottery will end. Take the hash of that block and hash it with the random number picked earlier. This is the random data you will use for the draw.
3. Post your random number.
The problem though is that system depends on me being honest. (I am) BUT, everyone else would have to take it on faith that I will keep it secret. I need something where I can't manipulate it. Right now, that's what depending on another lottery does. It's beyond my control what numbers come up. What would be the worst thing I could do IF I didn't keep the number secret?
April 09, 2011, 01:00:26 AM
1. Post the hash of a random number publicly. It is not important that your random number is random, only that it is secret.
2. Pick some block number when the lottery will end. Take the hash of that block and hash it with the random number picked earlier. This is the random data you will use for the draw.
3. Post your random number.
This is immune to manipulation by players. The owner has some ability to manipulate the result, but it's very difficult. You'd need to solve a block at that exact position with a difficulty much higher than normal. You can make owner manipulation even more difficult (almost impossible) by taking winning number 1 from, number 2 from +1, etc. This would be better randomness than the Canadian lottery, probably.
2. Pick some block number when the lottery will end. Take the hash of that block and hash it with the random number picked earlier. This is the random data you will use for the draw.
3. Post your random number.
This is immune to manipulation by players. The owner has some ability to manipulate the result, but it's very difficult. You'd need to solve a block at that exact position with a difficulty much higher than normal. You can make owner manipulation even more difficult (almost impossible) by taking winning number 1 from
April 09, 2011, 12:14:59 AM
Currently BitLotto uses a Canadian Lottery 6/49 lottery to get 6 numbers that are used to find a winner. Ideally it would be nice to get these numbers from Bitcoin instead. The first draw would not change with such short notice but with proper discussion BitLotto would be open to using an alternate source of random numbers. Using Bitcoin would be perfect if possible. The criteria would be either six numbers 1-49 (each number only drawn once) or six numbers 1-16 but each number can occur 3 times max... that would match the current system pretty close. Any ideas? Problems using these numbers? How random? It has to be something that can't be predicted or manipulated. (Of course I'd change it for a draw where no one has entered yet and if a few have the option to get their money back. Just wanted to see what some of you more technical people had to say? Thanks. Perhaps somehow setting a certain date, then whatever block comes next and somehow getting random numbers from it....
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