Hashgraph is a new consensus algorithm that radically differs from proof-of-work as well as proof-of-stake consensus algorithms. While work on Hashgraph begun in 2012, it’s design is radically different from today’s blockchain architectures. The Hashgraph team claims that it has found an optimal consensus algorithm design that will be impossible to significantly improve upon.
We were joined by Mance Harmon, who is CEO of the Swirlds, the company developing Hashgraph. Our conversation covered the origin story of hashgraph, how it compares to existing consensus algorithms and how Hashgraph works.
Topics covered in this episode:
Leemon Baird and Mance Harmon’s long history of building companies together
What motivated Leemon Baird to start working on Hashgraph in 2012
The existing categories of consensus algorithms and their problems
How Hashgraph consensus combines voting and gossip protocols
The performance characteristics of Hashgraph
How a public Hashgraph network could look like
Episode links:
Hashgraph Homepage
Hashgraph Whitepaper
Hashgraph Consensus - Detailed Examples
Sybil Attacks in Hashgraph
Hidden Forces Podcast Episode on Hashgraph
Lemon Baird's Talk on Hashgraph at Harvard Business School
This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/219