0

Satoshi's whitepaper claims that the reason there must be a consensus on all transactions is to solve the problem of double spend. I'm curious then, how would a non-consensus based system work if double spend were not a problem?

If a coin is still represented as a series of transactions, each of which is verifiable, and these are submitted as proof of ownership during transactions, then how can one prove that the entire coin is valid? While no one can fake a spend from an unwilling party, it seems you could fake the entire coin altogether.

The only solution I see to above is that each coin is initially issued and signed by a trusted party. Once these coins are in existence the trusted party is removed.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

The only solution I see to above is that each coin is initially issued and signed by a trusted party. Once these coins are in existence the trusted party is removed.

This is not correct. Why would that party need to be trusted?

Is the issue that they might sign more coins than they said they would sign? But that's a double spend problem. Right?

A double spend is when a party is only supposed to transfer X coins but they sign valid transactions to transfer Y coins where Y is more than X. The assumption we started with is that double spend isn't a problem. So there is no need to trust the "trusted party" since the only problem would be if they double spend and the starting assumption was that double spend wasn't a problem.

At every point in the system's existence, there has to be some set of future transactions that are valid and some set of future transactions that aren't and everyone has to agree on which transactions go in which set if they know the system's state. The system's initial state is also a system state, and so part of the system's rules have to be to see which transactions are valid from the initial state.

So simply a rule that there exists spendable tokens in the system's initial state is sufficient. The party that can spend those initial tokens doesn't need any special trust -- they are no different from any party that can spend any tokens in any other state.

Improve this answer
8
  • Well how would the coins be created in the first place? My concern is that someone can fake a coin by putting together a series of fake transactions to fake addresses.
    – curiousgeorge
    Commented Jan 4, 2021 at 17:56
  • @curiousgeorge The system's rules would specify what coins exist in the first place just as it specifies what coins exist in all other states. No special trust is needed just because the coins don't exist as the result of a prior transactions. All participants have to agree on all system rules or no system will work.
    – David Schwartz
    Commented Jan 4, 2021 at 17:58
  • I see so for example an initial system state would be "these 1k coins are signed by some hidden system private key, so they will forever be verifiable as authentic"
    – curiousgeorge
    Commented Jan 4, 2021 at 18:00
  • @curiousgeorge Sure. If everyone agreed on that, that would work. The XRP Ledger starts a new chain of ledgers with all 100 billion XRP controlled by an account with a well-known private key. They are defined by the system's rules as existing initially as if they were placed there by a transaction. That's just one of the system rules that participants must agree on to use the system and agree on who holds what XRP.
    – David Schwartz
    Commented Jan 4, 2021 at 18:01
  • To clarify "everyone has to agree on which transactions go in." In a case with no double spend this does not need to be the case right? No ledger is necessary. When you spend a coin, you could simply submit the coin's transactions as proof of ownership.
    – curiousgeorge
    Commented Jan 4, 2021 at 18:03

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.