Episode notes
What does the future of Proof of Work look like? Let's find out!
Time stamps:
00:01:09 - Welcoming Shai Wyborski
00:01:28 - Dig into GhostDAG; most interesting PoW scaling tech.
00:04:44 - Shai's BTC opinions over time
00:05:21 - How Shai spent BTC on "creativity fuel" (undisclosed).
00:06:31 - Disenchantment: Steam drops BTC (congestion/volatility); SegWit "tyranny" births BCH.
00:10:47 - Rejects SoV; BTC as "decentralized vault" for eternal data archiving.
00:15:44 - BTC probs: Low TPS; LN fails.
00:16:15 - Kaspa suite: Beyond TPS/confirmations.
00:16:59 - Tradeoff: High throughput → no audit; pruning for 10-30yr trust.
00:18:40 - GhostDAG multi-ledger: Parallel processing, flexible tx order.
00:19:45 - Miners: Partial info cuts selfish mining/MEV.
00:20:42 - Enables auctions/oracles (Elliot Mabe block-voting).
00:21:40 - Debunks PoW myths: BTC artifacts (congestion for fees).
00:22:15 - Kaspa: Paradigm shift proof; lessons from protocols.
00:23:24 - Flaw: Fast emission + fair launch = whale buyout.
00:23:49 - Fair ≠community; coercion w/o social contract.
00:25:10 - Whales fund → control; monetary world nature.
00:27:46 - Balance: Incentives, explicit contracts.
00:30:31 - Mining phases: CPU/GPU/ASIC stages; ultra-ASIC decen lock.
00:32:22 - ASIC-friendly: Cheap/low-power scale.
00:32:47 - Emission: Heavy early; ASICs 80-90% pre-retail.
00:34:29 - Full supply lifetime; tail short?00:35:28 - BTC emission extend 2-4x for social good.
00:37:27 - Kaspa whales: 3 hold 6% ($100M), foundation collusion.
00:38:27 - Kaspa emission: 60% in 1.5yrs emulates BTC adjusted for fast adoption.
00:41:16 - Guitar jam & sponsors.SideShift.ai: KYC-free swaps. NoOnes.com: P2P global south, "lions" mission. Bitcoin.com News: global views. LayerTwo Labs: Drivechains, ETH/Zcash sides.
00:46:49 - Kaspa drivechain?; WBTC custody risks.
00:48:33 - Citrea: ZK-rollup BTC DeFi.
00:49:27 - Alts: Quai grant, Kadena parallels.
00:50:47 - Parallel sec dilution.
00:52:03 - Quai: Selfish mining fixes, Monero 28% vuln.
00:53:01 - Monero RandomX ASIC-hostility.
00:54:02 - PoW specialized non-wasteful.
01:00:00 - Myths: Scalable, non-congested, decentralization.
01:15:00 - Casino stifles ingenuity; hype vs depth (IOTA rush).
01:30:00 - Funding: Retail quick vs VC long (Mobileye 20yr $80B).
01:45:00 - Game theory: Mechanism design incentives.
02:00:00 - Kaspa risks: Whale control, docs issues.
07:00:00 - Music: Beatles Sgt. Pepper post-Pet Sounds.
07:15:00 - McCartney bass; prog Floyd/Crimson.07:30:00 - Pet Sounds "God Only Knows" acapella.
07:43:02 - Pop→exp; Helter Skelter metal.
07:45:36 - Metal thrash/extreme; stoner Pantheon I.
07:47:41 - HS Pantera/prog/funk.07:49:51 - Concerts: Aristocrats, AC/DC; Dylan regret.
07:52:39 - Misses: Jethro Tull/Motörhead; Bon Jovi meh.
07:55:16 - Grunge: Nirvana In Utero, Soundgarden.
07:58:11 - Smashing Pumpkins trilogy; Corgan drama.
08:00:00 - Timeless tees; Doors sloppy; Zep Moby Dick.
08:02:40 - Zappa Inca Roads/Stink-Foot.
08:07:19 - AI scans/drones; govt bans.
08:12:08 - Radical: Vault, SoV, ultra-ASIC.
08:14:02 - PoW scalable/non-wasteful.08:15:00 - Fair vs community; casino timing punish.
08:17:40 - Narratives over fundamentals; retail vs VC.
08:21:07 - Record 8h21m+; ramble praise.
08:21:50 - Q&A: Kaspa 10yr alive, adapt.
08:22:24 - Beatles Kaspa? Pruning no.
08:23:44 - Game theory mechanism design.
08:26:09 - Work: Consulting, patents, Tectonic quantum.08:29:23 - Quai edu grant, freelance.
08:31:17 - KAS +3% pump; past dumps.
08:31:58 - Quai minor pump; negative effects.
08:33:34 - First interview 0.15→0.5¢; 13 KAS dons.
08:34:21 - Jam: Theme rock, lag.
08:38:07 8h39m record! Sponsors recap.
08:40:00 - Next interview with Val Venis on Monero/WWF; banter.