Blockchain infrastructure firm Blockstream has launched a new tool that allows users to execute atomic swaps for all assets supported by the Liquid network, according to an announcement published on July 1. The Liquid Network is a federated sidechain on the bitcoin (BTC) blockchain that functions as a settlement and payments network for crypto exchanges, market makers, brokers, and other financial institutions. In addition to its support for privacy features such as Confidential Transactions, the network aims to combat delayed transaction finality on the bitcoin (BTC) network and allow for…
Tag: Blockstream
Does Blockstream Hold Backdoor Keys to Bitcoin on Liquid?
This week, Blockstream launched the Liquid Network, a sidechain built on Strong Federation technology to facilitate quick and seamless transfer of bitcoin (BTC) between exchanges. Their website indicates they hold “emergency keys” to bitcoin held on Liquid, but there’s more to it. A Reddit thread offered both sides of the story; the anti Liquid and clarification from the top of Blockstream’s pecking order. On Blockstream’s published FAQ for the Liquid Network, they state that there are emergency keys that can access bitcoin held on the network if the network is down…
Blockstream Satellites Could Prevent Bitcoin Forks, says Blockstream CSO
During an episode of the Keiser Report, a discussion hosted by Max Keiser, streamed on May 17, 2019, the Chief Strategy Officer of Blockstream, Samson Mow, declared that their satellite in the geosynchronous orbit broadcasting the Bitcoin blockchain could prevent network splits. Keeping the World in Sync The Blockstream Satellite network broadcasts the Bitcoin blockchain all over the world. This allows everyone an equal opportunity to use Bitcoin without being exposed to the liability of network interruptions. In a recent episode of Keiser Report, Blockstream CSO Samson Mow explained to…
Blockchain Infrastructure Firm Blockstream Launches Security Token Platform
Blockchain infrastructure firm Blockstream announced the launch of its security token platform in a press release shared with Cointelegraph on May 15. Per the announcement, the new Liquid Securities platform is a solution for businesses to issue security tokens on the Liquid Network. Blockstream Chief Security Officer Samson Mow claims that while businesses are willing to issue tokenized securities, platforms such as Ethereum are not the right choice because of their scalability, privacy and reliability limitations. Blockstream claims that its platform is more suitable for such use: “Now, with the…
Blockstream Trials First Trust-Minimized P2P Bitcoin Derivatives
Blockchain technology company Blockstream has revealed that it was able to successfully complete a trust-minimized forward-contract transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain. The transaction occurred on April 16 between Blockstream and Crypto Garage. The official research paper was published on April 19, 2019. An Intro to Crypto Garage Crypto Garage is a Japanese firm dedicated to designing and implementing financial instruments based on Bitcoin. Crypto Garage has contributed to the Bitcoin Core software and has focused a lot of its resources to work on a number of side chains, and other…
Blockstream Releases Upgrade of Its Bitcoin Lightning Network Implementation
Blockchain development company Blockstream has released a new version of its Bitcoin (BTC) scalability software, c-lightning, a post on the company’s blog reveals on March 1. C-lightning is an implementation of the off-chain Bitcoin scalability solution, the Lightning Network (LN), that is written in the C programming language. Per the announcement, this latest version, c-lightning 0.7, is the first major release in 8 months and brings performance enhancements, bug fixes, augmented privacy and new features, as well as improved documentation. The main new feature is plugin supports, which allow developers…
Blockstream Releases Test Code for One of the Biggest Bitcoin Upgrades
Photo: Blockstream On Monday, February 18, blockchain tech firm Blockstream announced the release of new test code. Based on the Schnorr-based multi-signature scheme MuSig, this is supposedly one of the biggest upgrades for the Bitcoin blockchain network. Last year in May 2018, Blockstream’s Bitcoin developers released a paper showing the Schnorr multi-signature (MuSig) technology. Basically, this technology aims to make the Bitcoin network scalable. Also, the paper notes that MuSig holds the capability to reduce transaction size and “improve both performance and user privacy in Bitcoin”. Furthermore, the paper also notes that MuSig…
Blockstream Publishes Schnorr-Based Test Code for Bitcoin Blockchain Upgrade
The Schnorr-based multi-signature scheme MuSig, a test code for a potential upgrade to the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain, has been released by blockchain tech firm Blockstream, according to an announcement published on Feb. 18. Last January, four Bitcoin developers released a paper outlining how Schnorr multi-signatures (‘multisig’) could help scale the Bitcoin blockchain, saying that the technology could reduce its transaction size and “improve both performance and user privacy in Bitcoin”. In the paper, the developers state that MuSig is designed as “a protocol that allows a group of signers to…
Blockstream Cofounder Proposes To Reduce Bitcoin (BTC) Blocks from 1Mb to 300Kb
A recent proposal issued by Blockstream co-founder Luke DashJr has caused a stir in the Bitcoin Developers community. The well-known expert in cryptocurrencies proposed the temporary reduction of Bitcoin Blocksize to less than half. The proposal is already available for analysis in GitHub and seeks to reduce the size of the blocks produced by the Bitcoin Blockchain from 1Mb to only 300k. The soft fork would start its implementation mid-year, specifically From 2019 Aug 1 and should last until 2019 Dec 31. This decision may seem crazy, especially considering that…
BTC Ranging, Blockstream Quick Fix
Bitcoin Prices are steady but could rally above $3,600 in days ahead Blockstream’s Proof of Reserves could solve the exchange’s perennial problems Transaction volumes below average It may be an exit scam or a tragedy, but the bottom line is that QuadrigaCX users stand to lose $190 million. It is unbearable, but that is the reality. All the same, deliberations are in progress. In the meantime, BTC bulls are rejecting lower lows and could print above $3,600 and $3,800 by close of the week. Bitcoin Price Analysis Fundamentals Headline news…