67 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
67 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
BSIP: 0005
|
|
Title: Expiring Votes for Witnesses
|
|
Authors: Daniel Larmier <Dan@cryptonomex.com>
|
|
Fabian Schuh <Fabian@BitShares.eu>
|
|
Status: Draft
|
|
Type: Protocol
|
|
Created: 2015-12-16
|
|
Discussion: <https://github.com/cryptonomex/graphene/issues/265>
|
|
<https://bitsharestalk.org/index.php/topic,18109.0.html>
|
|
Worker: tbd
|
|
|
|
# Abstract
|
|
|
|
Votes for witnesses are a measure of reputation in that they cast a persistent
|
|
opinion - so not like votes in the traditional sense of the word. The
|
|
witness voting system is currently designed to ensure stability by directing
|
|
the apathetic to vote for incumbents. Whilst this may have advantages, it
|
|
seems to present the danger that incumbents are likely to attain a
|
|
near-unassailable position (excepting of course those who exhibit negligent/bad
|
|
behaviour).
|
|
|
|
# Motivation
|
|
|
|
If the aim is the create an autocracy - albeit seeded by the active witnesses
|
|
or so original gainers of significant 'reputation' - then this is fine. However,
|
|
it would seem to discourage serious efforts to try and break into the active
|
|
circle by newcomers with much to contribute. At the end of the BitShares 1
|
|
network, circa. 220M votes were required and a quick browse of the delegates
|
|
showed that with a few notable exceptions, the majority have been in place since
|
|
a 4 or 5 digit block number - have all been of these current, active contributors?
|
|
|
|
# Specifications
|
|
|
|
A blockchain parameter can be added that enforces a minimal *freshness* to votes
|
|
that are counted and handle cases of lost keys or apathetic votes hanging
|
|
around.
|
|
|
|
# Discussion
|
|
|
|
## Linear, Exponential, or other decay
|
|
|
|
The question is left open whether the *freshness* of votes decreases linearily,
|
|
exponentially or by any other function. It is further not defined if the
|
|
decrease should scale with the number of blocks or the absolute time.
|
|
|
|
## Voter Apathy
|
|
|
|
The argument has been raised that a apathy of voters would result in only few
|
|
*active* votes which could leave the blockchain open to attacks with only little
|
|
stake.
|
|
|
|
## Highly Volatile Voting Power
|
|
|
|
This proposal results in a high volatilty in voting power which has mostly
|
|
negative effects when votes are removed from the actively voting stake, i.e. a
|
|
big stake (e.g. from a proxy) expires. This could result in significant changes
|
|
that take effect instantly.
|
|
An alternative approach to fix this would be to have a window (e.g. several
|
|
days) in which changes in votes take effect gradually.
|
|
|
|
# Copyright
|
|
|
|
This document is placed in the public domain.
|
|
|
|
# See Also
|
|
|
|
* https://bitsharestalk.org/index.php/topic,20753.0.html
|