[RFC-0020] PoW Difficulty on PoS Blocks

Nagalim · August 22, 2020, 3:38pm

peercoin/rfcs/blob/master/text/0020-pow-difficulty-on-pos-blocks/0020-pow-difficulty-on-pos-blocks.md

# Proof-of-Work Difficulty on PoS Blocks

- Status: proposed
- Type: protocol adjustment
- Related components: 
- Start Date: 07-17-2020
- Discussion: 
- Supersedes: (fill me in with a link to RFC this supersedes - if applicable)
- Superseded by:
- Author: Nagalim

## Summary

Peercoin uses PoW block rewards as a fair distribution method for new coins.
However, the chain is fundamentally secured by PoS blocks, not PoW.
As such, a large chain of PoW blocks is detrimental to the security of the chain.
So called 'difficulty bombs' often result in long periods of time with no PoW blocks, followed by an abrupt decrease in PoW difficulty and then several PoW blocks found in a row, which momentarily compromises chain security.
By adjusting the PoW difficulty on PoS blocks found during these long periods, the difficulty bomb is diffused and PoW blocks can be found on more regular intervals.

## Conventions

This file has been truncated. show original

padenmoss · March 21, 2021, 6:04am

The compromise in chain security mentioned refers to orphaned blocks, as the chainweight of PoW blocks is near zero and, without the intercession of a PoS block, consecutive blocks are likely to be abandoned.

RFC0020 will secure the Peercoin network by adjusting work difficulty on stake blocks, thus diffusing infant bombs.