Bitcoin Forum

(Can a moderator please make this thread a sticky ?)

This forum has seen several alt chains, some with better launch processes, and some ... dubious, to say the least.

I would like to propose a protocol for launching a new alt chain. Adherence to the protocol is not mandatory, of course. I believe that any alt chain that wishes to have a chance at being successful, long term, MUST follow this protocol.

Alt-chain release RFC (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Alt-chain_release_RFC)

If you have any comments, please comment here and/or edit the wiki.


P.S. - this is the first RFC that I ever attempted to write, so pardon the lack of rigor and "official RFC language".

Good idea.  On the flip side, I don't know that we need any more alt coins... :( 

Well, yeah :)

But just like Namecoin (and Dianna (http://dianna-project.org/)?), there surely will be other ideas for alts that innovate in some way. Hopefully.

There was one idea about a possible chain with useful proof of works (as opposed to Bitcoin's "wasted" proof of works), that sounded actually plausible. I haven't investigated too deeply, so I don't know if it'll stick. Also, yeah, I know that Bitcoin's POW isn't actually wasted, it's spent securing the network, ...

I agree. If more alt chains are made, hopefully they will incorporate some more substantial innovation. :)

I don't think a sticky is a good idea.  All it does is give validity to people spamming new chains that really don't do much.  A chain with a good idea that actually improves upon something will stand out on it's own.

I don't understand. This is the alt-currency forum ... where people are encouraged to think of innovations in the form of alternative currencies (that's what I gathered, at least).

If this is not made sticky, odds are that if a legitimate idea does get designed, its author will not find this RFC, and will not follow it. This will lead to unnecessary problems because the RFC is designed to help people launch successful currencies. People will forget to properly announce their chains, release testnets first, properly version the releases...

All the RFC does is formalize a set of best practices, that's all. I don't see how its existence as a sticky will encourage the creation of  more ScamCoins.

So far, in this forum there isn't much in the way of innovation. Just a lot of BTC forks.

innovation isn't from copying terbix/bitcoin, and changing the genesis block. it's about adding NEW features, and NEW proof of work. People who can't figure out how to  make simple code changes are likely unable to create anything revolutionary.

Oh man, if you could have only seen the future... Hello from 2015!