Quote from: muyuu on March 23, 2017, 11:08:24 PM

Quote from: mmgen-py on March 23, 2017, 09:56:59 PM

Quote from: muyuu on March 23, 2017, 09:17:06 PM

We're looking mostly at GPU friendly (possibly memory-hard, depending on the algo) PoW that will provide a good compromise against generic botnets and ASICs to gain time.

Here's my proposal: Implement the new PoW as a PoWA (proof-of-work additions) soft fork. New PoW is memory-hard Cuckoo Cycle (whose creator has joined the discussion here), or possibly Equihash.

Give 5% of the block reward to the new PoW. This is enough to create a new DRAM-based mining community + hardware/software infrastructure without alienating/bankrupting existing SHA2 miners.

If SHA2 miners continue misbehaving (blocking Segwit, threatening to use other implementations), we increase the new PoW's reward with another soft fork. Hopefully this option won't have to be used: the threat will be enough to keep them compliant.

Conservative approach allows us to use relatively untested PoW algorithm safely, as blockchain continues to be 95% secured by old SHA2 hashing power. Getting the larger community behind a conservative solution will also be easier. Pro-Core miners will support it, since it's a far better option for them than the current standoff and possible network fork.

I think it's worth considering but I believe this would take a long time to review and test. The possible dynamics are extremely complex and we have to make sure we done introduce new attacks or vulnerabilities.

I believe we virtually have one already (Keccak) in case we needed a very quick and sudden change, and we can try to improve upon as time allows. We don't know how much time do we have but mixed systems will have to be simplified as much as possible or it will take months or years to have reasonable confidence in them.

It's worth exploring since it is a more palatable "non-emergency" solution. As for the current fork, be it HF or SF, I like the idea of a memory intensive POW. It would indeed remove China's hardware monopoly -- and subsidized electricity can be found in many countries.