PoS attack question.

[coinsolidation]

In Proof of Stake the people that hold the most coins sign the blocks that will be part of the block chain.
The theory is that people that have the most to lose from a 51% attack will do their best to prevent it.
But, if you have the most money, and are signing the blocks, don't you have the most to gain by executing a double spend attack, and nothing to lose if it fails?

[lynn_402]

In Proof of Stake the people that hold the most coins sign the blocks that will be part of the block chain.
The theory is that people that have the most to lose from a 51% attack will do their best to prevent it.
But, if you have the most money, and are signing the blocks, don't you have the most to gain by executing a double spend attack, and nothing to lose if it fails?

Actually, the attacker would lose even if he fails, because his attempt might be spotted by someone, and that would reduce people's trust in PoS coins and thus their value.

[newuser01]

In Proof of Stake the people that hold the most coins sign the blocks that will be part of the block chain.
The theory is that people that have the most to lose from a 51% attack will do their best to prevent it.
But, if you have the most money, and are signing the blocks, don't you have the most to gain by executing a double spend attack, and nothing to lose if it fails?

Yes

this is the "nothing to lose" issue with PoS..

If you are going to double spend on PoW and fail, you've lost a bunch of hashing power meaning lost $$$.

Try the same on PoS and if you fail nothing is lost.. in other words: you have nothing to lose.

[lynn_402]

In Proof of Stake the people that hold the most coins sign the blocks that will be part of the block chain.
The theory is that people that have the most to lose from a 51% attack will do their best to prevent it.
But, if you have the most money, and are signing the blocks, don't you have the most to gain by executing a double spend attack, and nothing to lose if it fails?

Yes

this is the "nothing to lose" issue with PoS..

If you are going to double spend on PoW and fail, you've lost a bunch of hashing power meaning lost $$$.

Try the same on PoS and if you fail nothing is lost.. in other words: you have nothing to lose.

There are potential solutions in the work for that problem, "by ensuring that each minter could only allocate their coin-age capital to a single chain.": https://gist.github.com/mquandalle/4727a429d60aad916821

[coinsolidation]

There are potential solutions in the work for that problem, "by ensuring that each minter could only allocate their coin-age capital to a single chain.": https://gist.github.com/mquandalle/4727a429d60aad916821

PoA as an alternative too, it randomise who get's to sign the next block.