In a recent blog post by Yonatan Sompolinsky, he discusses the current state of the cryptocurrency project Kaspa and its recent developments. Despite the ongoing “crypto winter,” Sompolinsky argues that projects with strong character and innovation can still thrive.
Sompolinsky and his colleague Michal Sutton have published a new protocol called DAGKNIGHT (DK), which they claim is the first proof-of-work consensus protocol that can adapt to network latency and resist attacks from up to 49% of byzantine actors. This protocol is the result of nearly three years of research and development.
Before DK can be considered for use in Kaspa, there are still some steps that need to be taken, including completing missing details in the proof section, preparing the paper for peer-review, devising efficient algorithms, and adapting the consensus algorithm to meet the specific requirements of a cryptocurrency.
The DK protocol also enables high block rates and fast confirmation times, but further research is needed to determine the optimal block rate. Additionally, DK allows for new features such as flexcaps, which allow miners to create blocks of varying sizes and difficulties, and stealth transactions, which protect users from MEV (miner extractable value) when smart contracts are developed.
Sompolinsky also mentions the need for a new grant request from the Kaspa community to fund this consensus upgrade, and expresses hope that miners and other stakeholders will see the long-term benefits of this investment.
Lastly, Sompolinsky shares a mishap in the Kaspa Discord community where a moderator accidentally kicked out all inactive users, reducing the community size by 25%. However, he sees a silver lining in that it revealed 9,000 active members in the last 30 days, indicating a strong and engaged community.
In conclusion, Sompolinsky expresses gratitude for the active members of the Kaspa community and their role in turning Kaspa from a sound protocol to a sound money.