Blockchain, money, computing power and 51% attack
Opened this issue · 2 comments
If we are to model our voting technology on Bitcoin paradigm, how do we address the problem of 51% attack? Big money in politics presents a real issue today, even in a relatively low-tech voting system, it is a little worrying to think of a time when SuperPacs stop buying idiotic TV ads and start buying computing cycles. And the problem is only made bigger with the fact that we have a 2-party system in the US, where candidates and parties are racing to the same ratio of 51% almost as a "business process". so the incentive to try to organize into "mining pools" would be extremely high. Just a thought.
Yes, valid concern if we hold on to the design/concept of bitcoin. I've been doing a lot of reading as to how Ethereum works, and getting my head around Distributed Apps on the blockchain(s).
The first thing that pops in mind, is use multiple blockchains for verification. So to corrupt the vote, you'd have to attack multiple chains and systems via mining. That's something we can detect and may be able to come up with rules to avoid centralization of power >50% to any one entity.
I have also been playing with the ramifications of pre mined chains for each governing authority that is running the votes (the voter association in the US for example). Next coin does this. One of the big flaws is the the people in control of it and void a vote... but it would be very obvious if/when they do. Just a thought.