If Bitcoin network would have stopped to work, would it be destroyed ? - page 2.

Erkallys

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Quote from: DannyHamilton on December 14, 2015, 02:23:53 PM

Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 02:18:21 PM

So the "losing chain" will be erased ? This can't lead to a fork ? The two chains can't cohabitate ?

If all the nodes are running the current consensus protocol, then a permanent fork is impossible. Nodes will always come to a consensus on one chain and the losing chain will be ignored.

If the nodes on the losing chain WANT a fork, then they can create their own protocol that rejects all blocks from the other chain. This will cause there to be two currencies both trying to call themselves "bitcoin". Blocks on one chain won't be valid on the other, and any transactions that use bitcoins that are only confirmed on one chain will be invalid on the other chain.

So from what I understood, if nodes on the losing chain don't create their own protocol, they won't fork ? But if there is the same number of nodes in each of the two chains (I'm still taking the exemple of the electricty collapse and the two homes network that cohabitate), which one will win ? And will each chain create blocks at the same time ?

DannyHamilton

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Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 02:18:21 PM

So the "losing chain" will be erased ? This can't lead to a fork ? The two chains can't cohabitate ?

If all the nodes are running the current consensus protocol, then a permanent fork is impossible. Nodes will always come to a consensus on one chain and the losing chain will be ignored.

If the nodes on the losing chain WANT a fork, then they can create their own protocol that rejects all blocks from the other chain. This will cause there to be two currencies both trying to call themselves "bitcoin". Blocks on one chain won't be valid on the other, and any transactions that use bitcoins that are only confirmed on one chain will be invalid on the other chain.

Erkallys

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Quote from: DannyHamilton on December 14, 2015, 01:28:09 PM

Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 01:21:02 PM

Okay, I understand, so let's say that solar-panel powered house with two computer connected between them keep running the Bitcoin Core and mining blocks and that the same thing happen in another place, when electricity and then internet will come back, which chain will be described as the right one ? The older ? None of them ?

The one with the larger proof-of-work. (This generally means the one with more blocks).

Any transactions that are confirmed in both chains (or only in the winning chain) will remain confirmed. Any transactions that are only confirmed in the "losing" chain will become unconfirmed and will need to be re-confirmed in the new chain. If any of those transactions that become unconfirmed are invalid in the new chain, then they will cease to exist.

So the "losing chain" will be erased ? This can't lead to a fork ? The two chains can't cohabitate ?

DannyHamilton

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Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 01:21:02 PM

Okay, I understand, so let's say that solar-panel powered house with two computer connected between them keep running the Bitcoin Core and mining blocks and that the same thing happen in another place, when electricity and then internet will come back, which chain will be described as the right one ? The older ? None of them ?

The one with the larger proof-of-work. (This generally means the one with more blocks).

Any transactions that are confirmed in both chains (or only in the winning chain) will remain confirmed. Any transactions that are only confirmed in the "losing" chain will become unconfirmed and will need to be re-confirmed in the new chain. If any of those transactions that become unconfirmed are invalid in the new chain, then they will cease to exist.

Erkallys

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Okay, I understand, so let's say that solar-panel powered house with two computer connected between them keep running the Bitcoin Core and mining blocks and that the same thing happen in another place, when electricity and then internet will come back, which chain will be described as the right one ? The older ? None of them ?

DannyHamilton

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Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 01:03:35 PM

If for any reason, a big electricity cut happens worldwide, would it destroyed Bitcoin ?

No, but it would be very difficult to use until the electricity (and internet) functionality returned. Nearly everyone would stop using it and would wait until the problem was fixed. Then they would return to using it again.

Of course, in the meantime the world would collapse into chaos. There would be riots and mobs trying to acquire food and fresh water. Food, water, bullets, and weapons would become the new currency.

Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 01:03:35 PM

In an easier way, if everyone would disconnect to the Bitcoin network, would it kill Bitcoin,

Kill it? No. But confirmations would stop happening until some miners and users re-connected.

Quote from: Erkallys on December 14, 2015, 01:03:35 PM

would it stop to work ?

Confirmations wouldn't happen until there was a way to get transactions from users to miners, and for miners to share completed blocks. Once a communications method was established, bitcoin could continue to confirm transactions.

Erkallys

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If for any reason, a big electricity cut happens worldwide, would it destroyed Bitcoin ? In an easier way, if everyone would disconnect to the Bitcoin network, would it kill Bitcoin, would it stop to work ?

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