Why you should increase blocksize now and why it is already late

in #bitcoin7 years ago

First of all, I do not want to choose any side in this ongoing debate and I want to speak independently from anyone who is a topic in the Bitcoin community. So let's not talk about UASF, UAHF, segwit, segwit2x or anything.

Let's talk about Bitcoin!

Bitcoin is a p2p electronic cash system. The blockchain is an underlying technology and serves as a distributed ledger. The idea behind Bitcoin was and still is simple. The vision that is shared everyone in this community is seeing Bitcoin as a real, valuable alternative to the fiat money system. That point when Bitcoin is widely used by the mainstream of this planet can only be achieved if it can scale! From 2009 to 2016 Bitcoin could scale. Because block were not full. Look at this graphic again:

0-ygoGFu0-5qbXTh_J-.png

I seriously doubt, that the top 100 on coinmarketcap.com would look in any way like they look today. This altcoin boom would not have happened, if Bitcoin could scale. There were people out there waiting for the moment to see Bitcoin failing to scale. Because everyone who looks at the 1MB block limit should realize, that this won't be enough to scale on a global level. It's so simple. We have a system, it is growing because of adaption, more people use that system, because they like how the system works. And the number of people who like how that system works increases exponentially. So of course the system has to grow too, in order to serve this increasing demand. But the system is limited. There is a 1 MB Block limit that has been enough for a fast adaption until 2017. But it is not enough for now and the future. So the simple question is: why you don't increase this limit? Perhaps, because it could have a negative effect or because it is not safe? Perhaps because a blogger who seems to be a nerd says it is not good? Actually, it is like 4 lines of code. It is nothing. Are there still reasons, why you should not increase this limit, which is 4 lines of code? Which would be better reasons, than the reasons for building new sub system, that is put on top our current system which will change it funfamentally.

First of all let´s talk generally. If you have a running system and a problem to solve, which the current system is not able to solve. What would you do? Probably the smallest possible change on the current system that solves the problem and has the smallest impact on the fundamentals of the system would be the solution right? Of course you could also change the system, but what is the whole reason for you being active in that system before? Probably you supported those fundamentals.

Back to Bitcoin: Why should we change the fundamentals of the system in order to scale? You can just increase the block size. Simple as that. Bitcoin is able to scale. The block size limit was not implemented to be there forever.

Another point: How much was a node in 2010? Probably the node was a simple notebook for 400 bucks. The blockchain was small but storage was kinda expensive. So how much did it cost you to run your full node in 2010 in Bitcoin? Probably more than 100 Bitcoin for your computer! Today 1TB is like 50$ on amazon, which is like 0.02 BTC.. Really? People really argue, that a Block Size increase will be too costly for the average person to run a full node? If we increase the block size to 2 MB what would happen? Nothing. 500GB are nothing for today. 1 TB would be nothing today. So i really really doubt, that 10TB would be anything in 3 years. Moore's Law is true. And the invisible hand works also for block space and the demand for Bitcoin transactions. If we will ever come to the point when running a full node would cost 20000$, then Bitcoin´s value will be at least 100000$ or much more. Simple economics.

But back to the topic. We don't speak about 10GB blocks tomorrow, but what about 2 or 4 MB in order to scale 2 or 4 times? It's mathematics. Easy scale. It would not even hurt an orange pie node. Really think about that. I would say, if Bitcoin had a 2 MB block limit at the beginning of this year, this altcoin bubble would not have happened.

Scale now. And if you have ideas and arguments share them. Don't make it politics. "Person a said this, person b said that, so I follow person c's opinion". Why would you care about that this? Who cares about what anyone says? This whole debate is a fucking joke. I am looking forward for a high quality debate in the comments.

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