With both the Bitcoin Unlimited and Segregated Witness efforts far from reaching majority support and exploding transaction fees, the debate around how to scale Bitcoin continues on. One of the key arguments against bigger blocks and Bitcoin Unlimited is that a blocksize restriction is needed to create a healthy fee market. Dr Peter Rizun has been researching the economics of transaction fees in Bitcoin extensively and joined us to discuss what dynamics affect fees and why he thinks the blocksize limit will eventually fall. Topics covered in this episode: Bitcoin seen through the eyes of a physicist The dynamics that determine transaction fees in Bitcoin How orphaning risks drive the fee market economics The relationship between the block reward and the fee market Why the blocksize limit will eventually fall Why Peter supports Bitcoin Unlimited The state of discussion between Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Unlimited Episode links: Dr. Peter Rizun's talk at Scaling Bitcoin Montreal 2015 Dr. Peter Rizun: "A Transaction Fee Market Exists Without a Block Size Limit" XT Nodes - Bitcoin Hashrate Distribution Bitco.in Forum Ledger - Peer-Reviewed Journal on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/172

One of the key issues with blockchain networks is the lack of interoperability. In the early days of Bitcoin, blockchain interoperability was far from people’s minds. However, as new networks continued to emerge and gain traction, the ability to move assets freely from one blockchain to another has become a critical feature. We’re joined by Jae Kwon, CEO and Founder of Tendermint, the team which is launching the Cosmos Network. Cosmos aims to build the internet of blockchains: A global network of blockchains, connected through hubs that allow trustless token transfer. Jae joined us to discuss the Cosmos vision, the underlying Tendermint consensus algorithm and upcoming fundraiser. Topics covered in this episode: What Cosmos is and the problems it hopes to solve How Tendermint and Ethereum relate to Cosmos How Cosmos differs from other attemps to solve blockchain interoperability Cosmos’ consensus algorithm, BFT-PoS The role of Hubs and Zones in the Cosmos Network Cosmos’ native asset, Atom, and its role in creating liquidity for inter-blockchain exchange How validator nodes will be chosen Governance in the Cosmos Network Applications for Cosmos The Atom fundraiser and Cosmos’ product roadmap Episode links: Cosmos: Internet of Blockchains Tendermint Epicenter 113: Tendermint - Private Modularized Blockchains Cosmos Whitepaper This episode is hosted by Meher Roy and Sébastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/170