Arguments for Bitcoin maximalism are starting to falter
Since Bitcoin's share of the total crypto market capitalization has dropped from over 90 percent to years ago to lows of around 50 in the past 12 months it's timely to reassess the Bitcoin maximalist tenets. How have they stood the test of time?
Blockstream’s Bitcoin sidechain solution, Liquid, slated for launch in early 2018
Sidechains promise to help Bitcoin adapt to new demands and accommodate new innovation, according to the company behind the seminal sidechain whitepaper, Blockstream. Several different companies have been developing the idea since Blockstream introduced the concept in an October 2014.
Bitcoin sidechain with a bigger block size limit may soon be a reality
Bitcoin’s block size debate is seeping into the mainstream press, the Wall Street Journal states that the “bitter split in the developer community behind the virtual currency threatened to literally break it in two.” The article echoes statements made by investors such as Vinny Lingham, the Civic CEO and Gyft co-founder, who states “I’ve been very surprised with the amount of vocal support for a Bitcoin Hard Fork.”
Blind Merged Mining
In pursuing my goal of Bitcoin prediction markets, I was drawn to sidechains as the only realistic implementation strategy. I even sketched out some way that they would have to work, in early 2014. My friends an I worked on my own project, while waiting for sidechains to be developed.
Can Drivechain make bitcoin sidechains a reality?
Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has proposed a new spin on sidechains called the Drivechain, which tackles the problems remaining with two way pegs, and even more problems with Bitcoin itself.
Mercator Advisory Group, “VC Investments Could Cripple Bitcoin”
Mercator Advisory Group has released a new research note entitled, [How Many Sidechains Can Bitcoin Economics Support?](https://www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com/Notes/How_Many_Sidechains_Can_Bitcoin_Economics_Support_/). It analyzes past problems that allegedly came close to stopping Bitcoin and outlines the economic model that drives trust in the blockchain.
Blockstream Releases Sidechain Elements
Blockstream has released the alpha version of Sidechain Elements, an open source project designed to greatly extend the bitcoin network and its' functionality.
Enabling Blockchain Innovations with Pegged Sidechains
We propose a new technology,pegged sidechains,which enables bitcoins and other ledger assets to be transferred between multiple blockchains. This gives users access to new and innovative cryptocurrency systems using the assets they already own.
