My understanding is that Bitcoin involves one major innovation (approximate solution to the Byzantine Generals problem) and the rest is existing tech.
I guess I was counting the idea of “decentralized pseudonymous money implemented as a distributed ledger” as well as all of the major elements involved in how Satoshi realized this idea to be part of Bitcoin’s innovations, since my understanding is that Satoshi was not aware of either b-money or Bit Gold (both of which BTW were also developed outside of academia/government/industry) before he wrote his paper, and had reinvented the idea on his own.
since my understanding is that Satoshi was not aware of either b-money or Bit Gold (both of which BTW were also developed outside of academia/government/industry) before he wrote his paper, and had reinvented the idea on his own.
You’ve previously said that Satoshi was not aware of b-money (incidentally, Adam Back recently took credit for telling Satoshi about b-money), but this is the first I’ve heard anyone suggest that Satoshi was unaware of Szabo’s Bit Gold. What makes you say that?
this is the first I’ve heard anyone suggest that Satoshi was unaware of Szabo’s Bit Gold. What makes you say that?
I think if he had been aware, he would have cited Szabo in his paper, like he did with b-money. And yes, Satoshi learned about b-money from Adam Back. Here’s part of Satoshi’s email to me:
I was very interested to read your b-money page. I’m getting ready to release a paper that expands on your ideas into a complete working system. Adam Back (hashcash.org) noticed the similarities and pointed me to your site.
I guess I was counting the idea of “decentralized pseudonymous money implemented as a distributed ledger” as well as all of the major elements involved in how Satoshi realized this idea to be part of Bitcoin’s innovations, since my understanding is that Satoshi was not aware of either b-money or Bit Gold (both of which BTW were also developed outside of academia/government/industry) before he wrote his paper, and had reinvented the idea on his own.
You’ve previously said that Satoshi was not aware of b-money (incidentally, Adam Back recently took credit for telling Satoshi about b-money), but this is the first I’ve heard anyone suggest that Satoshi was unaware of Szabo’s Bit Gold. What makes you say that?
I think if he had been aware, he would have cited Szabo in his paper, like he did with b-money. And yes, Satoshi learned about b-money from Adam Back. Here’s part of Satoshi’s email to me: