Consensus Based on Proofs of Space and Time with Bram Cohen | a16z crypto research talks

In this presentation, Bram Cohen (Chia Network) provides an overview of the concepts of Proofs of Space and Proofs of Time. Analogous to the physics formula “work=force*distance,” Proof of Work can be replaced with Proofs of Space and Proofs of Time, resulting in a blockchain with much more distributed and larger resources that secures and uses vastly less energy. Bram walks through what these primitives are, how they are combined securely in Chia, and how the same techniques can be applied to Proof of Stake. About the speaker Bram is the inventor of BitTorrent, the most used protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing over the internet. During his time at BitTorrent, he worked in various roles including Engineering Manager, Product Manager, and member of the Board of Directors. He left BitTorrent in August 2017 to found Chia Network, where he has served as Chairman and CTO since its founding and, since June 2019, as CEO. Bram is also one of the top selling puzzle designers in the world. About a16