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Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:45:08 +0800
Message-ID: <CAM7BtUoz=ugYbt+kV-P4iDbqS+cGyAzz-8W0fnQy43Q+cAK_1Q@mail.gmail.com>
From: Pindar Wong <pindar.wong@gmail.com>
To: bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7b450a9a9543f4051d051e3f
Subject: [bitcoin-dev] CFP Bitcoin Scalability Workshop (Sept 12-13),
	Montreal Canada
Precedence: list

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Bitcoin Scalability Workshops

In recent months the Bitcoin development community has faced difficult
discussions of how to safely improve the scalability and decentralized
nature of the Bitcoin network. To aid the technical consensus building
process we are organizing a pair of workshops to collect technical
criteria, present proposals and evaluate technical materials and data with
academic discipline and analysis that fully considers the complex tradeoffs
between decentralization, utility, security and operational realities. This
may be considered as similar in intent and process to the NIST-SHA3 design
process where performance and security were in a tradeoff for a security
critical application.

Since Bitcoin is a P2P currency with many stakeholders, it is important to
collect requirements as broadly as possible, and through the process
enhance everyone=E2=80=99s understanding of the technical properties of Bit=
coin to
help foster an inclusive, transparent, and informed process.

Those with technical interest are invited to participate in this pair of
workshops with the following intent:

Phase 1: Scene setting, evaluation criteria, and tradeoff analysis.

Montreal, Canada: September 12th-13th, 2015

Scalability is not a single parameter; there are many opportunities to make
the Bitcoin protocol more efficient and better able to service the needs of
its growing userbase. Each approach to further scaling the Bitcoin
blockchain involves implicit trade offs of desired properties of the whole
system. As a community we need to raise awareness of the complex and subtle
issues involved, facilitate deeper research and testing of existing
proposals, and motivate future work in this area.

The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the general tradeoffs and
requirements of any proposal to scale Bitcoin beyond its present limits.
Session topics are to include the presentation of experimental data
relating to known bottlenecks of Bitcoin=E2=80=99s continued growth and ana=
lysis of
implicit tradeoffs involved in general strategies for enabling future
growth.

This event will not host sessions on the topic of any specific proposals
involving changes to the Bitcoin protocol. Such proposals would be the
topic of a 2nd, follow-on Phase 2 workshop described below; this event is
intended to =E2=80=9Cset the stage=E2=80=9D for work on and evaluation of s=
pecific
proposals in the time between the workshops.

Phase 2 will be planned out further as part of Phase 1 with input from the
participants.

Phase 2: Presentation and review of technical proposals, with simulation,
benchmark results.

Hong Kong, SAR, China: TBD Nov/Dec 2015

Hopefully to be easier for the Chinese miners to attend, the second
workshop pertaining to actual block size proposals is to be planned for
Hong Kong roughly in the late November to December timeframe.

The purpose of this workshop is to present and review actual proposals for
scaling Bitcoin against the requirements gathered in Phase 1. Multiple
competing proposals will be presented, with experimental data, and compared
against each other. The goal is to raise awareness of scalability issues
and build a pathway toward consensus for increasing Bitcoin=E2=80=99s trans=
action
processing capacity or, barring that, identify key areas of further
required research and next steps for moving forward.

Preliminarily, Phase 2 will be a time to share results from experiments
performed as a result of Phase 1 and an opportunity to discuss new
developments.

How do the Workshops work?

   -

   Both events will be live-streamed with remote participation facilitated
   via IRC for parallel online discussion and passing questions to the even=
t.
   -

   These workshops aim to facilitate the existing Bitcoin Improvement
   Proposals (BIP)[1] process. Most work will be done outside of the worksh=
ops
   in the intervening months. The workshops serve to be additive to the des=
ign
   and review process by raising awareness of diverse points of view, studi=
es,
   simulations, and proposals.
   -

   Travel, venue details, and accommodation recommendation are available at
   scalingbitcoin.org. Registration begins August 12th at an early-bird
   ticket price of $150 USD until September 3rd. The ticket prices do not c=
ome
   close to covering the venue expense and travel subsidies, hence the need
   for corporate sponsors.
   -

   Please see the FAQ at scalingbitcoin.org which should answer most other
   questions.


Travel Subsidies for Independent/Academic Researchers

There will be an application process for independent or academic
researchers to apply for travel assistance to help cover the expense of
airfare and hotel fees up to $1,000 per qualified presenter who intends to
give a presentation.  The four underwriters of this event have agreed to
jointly review applications and cover the travel subsidies for qualified
presenters. See scalingbitcoin.org for details.

Sponsors of the Montreal Workshop

The first workshop is hosted and with logistics handled by the Montreal
consultancy CryptoMechanics <http://cryptomechanics.com>.

The Underwriters jointly responsible for venue expenses and researcher
travel subsidies are currently the MIT Digital Currency Initiative,
Chaincode Labs, Blockstream, and Chain.com.

Current sponsors include: Cryptsy, BitcoinTalk, Final Hash, Blockstream,
MIT DCI, Chaincode Labs, IDEO Futures, Kraken, and Chain.com.

Additional sponsors are needed. Please see scalingbitcoin.org for
sponsorship details or contact me directly via < pindar dot wong at
gmail.com >

Online Workshop Resources

   -

   Bitcoin-Workshops-Announce list

   https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops-ann=
ounce
   -

   Bitcoin-Workshops discussion list
   https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops
   -

   #bitcoin-workshops chat on the Freenode IRC network
   http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=3Dbitcoin-workshops


Call for Proposals/Papers/Presentations

If you have any research relevant to issues surrounding Bitcoin
scalability, your proposal for a presentation at the Montreal workshop
would be most welcome.  Please see scalingbitcoin.org for submission
details.

Pindar Wong

Chair, Montreal Workshop Planning Committee

Chairman, VeriFi (Hong Kong) Ltd.

[1] https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;ma=
rgin-bottom:0pt" id=3D"docs-internal-guid-00ade65e-1be5-ae4c-da31-966a6257b=
be7"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);=
background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-va=
riant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Bitcoin Scalabil=
ity Workshops</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;mar=
gin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:=
Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;fo=
nt-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bas=
eline">In recent months the Bitcoin development community has faced difficu=
lt discussions of how to safely improve the scalability and decentralized n=
ature of the Bitcoin network. To aid the technical consensus building proce=
ss we are organizing a pair of workshops to collect technical criteria, pre=
sent proposals and evaluate technical materials and data with academic disc=
ipline and analysis that fully considers the complex tradeoffs between dece=
ntralization, utility, security and operational realities. This may be cons=
idered as similar in intent and process to the NIST-SHA3 design process whe=
re performance and security were in a tradeoff for a security critical appl=
ication.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=
=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><sp=
an style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255=
,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration=
:none;vertical-align:baseline">Since Bitcoin is a P2P currency with many st=
akeholders, it is important to collect requirements as broadly as possible,=
 and through the process enhance everyone=E2=80=99s understanding of the te=
chnical properties of Bitcoin to help foster an inclusive, transparent, and=
 informed process.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"l=
tr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-colo=
r:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;te=
xt-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Those with technical interest a=
re invited to participate in this pair of workshops with the following inte=
nt:</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"li=
ne-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span sty=
le=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,25=
5);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:un=
derline;vertical-align:baseline">Phase 1: Scene setting, evaluation criteri=
a, and tradeoff analysis.</span><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(=
34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:norm=
al;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> =C2=
=A0</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0p=
t;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;colo=
r:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-styl=
e:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">=
Montreal, Canada: September 12th-13th, 2015</span><span style=3D"font-famil=
y:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:4=
00;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-alig=
n:baseline"><br class=3D"kix-line-break"><br class=3D"kix-line-break"></spa=
n></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin=
-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34=
,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal=
;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Scalabil=
ity is not a single parameter; there are many opportunities to make the Bit=
coin protocol more efficient and better able to service the needs of its gr=
owing userbase. Each approach to further scaling the Bitcoin blockchain inv=
olves implicit trade offs of desired properties of the whole system. As a c=
ommunity we need to raise awareness of the complex and subtle issues involv=
ed, facilitate deeper research and testing of existing proposals, and motiv=
ate future work in this area.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font>=
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">=
<font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);backg=
round-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant=
:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The purpose of this w=
orkshop is to discuss the general tradeoffs and requirements of </span><spa=
n style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,2=
55,255);font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decorati=
on:none;vertical-align:baseline">any </span><span style=3D"font-family:Aria=
l;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;fon=
t-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:base=
line">proposal to scale Bitcoin beyond its present limits. Session topics a=
re to include the presentation of experimental data relating to known bottl=
enecks of Bitcoin=E2=80=99s continued growth and analysis of implicit trade=
offs involved in general strategies for enabling future growth.</span></fon=
t></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;=
margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-fami=
ly:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:=
400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-ali=
gn:baseline">This event will not host sessions on the topic of any specific=
 proposals involving changes to the Bitcoin protocol. Such proposals would =
be the topic of a 2nd, follow-on Phase 2 workshop described below; this eve=
nt is intended to =E2=80=9Cset the stage=E2=80=9D for work on and evaluatio=
n of specific proposals in the time between the workshops. </span></font></=
p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;marg=
in-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:A=
rial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;=
font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:b=
aseline">Phase 2 will be planned out further as part of Phase 1 with input =
from the participants.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=
=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font =
size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-=
color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:norma=
l;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Phase 2: Presentation =
and review of technical proposals, with simulation, benchmark results.</spa=
n><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb=
(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-de=
coration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> =C2=A0</span></font></p><p dir=3D"l=
tr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-colo=
r:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;te=
xt-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Hong Kong, SAR, China: TBD Nov/=
Dec 2015</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-t=
op:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial=
;color:rgb(51,51,51);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font=
-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:basel=
ine">Hopefully to be easier for the Chinese miners to attend, the second wo=
rkshop pertaining to actual block size proposals is to be planned for Hong =
Kong roughly in the late November to December timeframe.</span></font></p><=
font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-=
top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Aria=
l;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;fon=
t-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:base=
line">The purpose of this workshop is to present and review actual proposal=
s for scaling Bitcoin against the requirements gathered in Phase 1. Multipl=
e competing proposals will be presented, with experimental data, and compar=
ed against each other. The goal is to raise awareness of scalability issues=
 and build a pathway toward consensus for increasing Bitcoin=E2=80=99s tran=
saction processing capacity or, barring that, identify key areas of further=
 required research and next steps for moving forward.</span></font></p><fon=
t size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top=
:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;c=
olor:rgb(38,38,38);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-s=
tyle:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baselin=
e">Preliminarily, Phase 2 will be a time to share results from experiments =
performed as a result of Phase 1 and an opportunity to discuss new developm=
ents.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"=
line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span s=
tyle=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(38,38,38);background-color:rgb(255,255,=
255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:=
underline;vertical-align:baseline">How do the Workshops work?</span></font>=
</p><ul style=3D"margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D=
"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-colo=
r:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;te=
xt-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-he=
ight:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D=
"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);fo=
nt-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;ve=
rtical-align:baseline">Both events will be live-streamed with remote partic=
ipation facilitated via IRC for parallel online discussion and passing ques=
tions to the event.</span></font></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-sty=
le-type:disc;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255=
,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decora=
tion:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38=
;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-fam=
ily:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight=
:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-al=
ign:baseline">These workshops aim to facilitate the existing Bitcoin Improv=
ement Proposals (BIP)[1] process. Most work will be done outside of the wor=
kshops in the intervening months. The workshops serve to be additive to the=
 design and review process by raising awareness of diverse points of view, =
studies, simulations, and proposals.</span></font></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" =
style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);backgro=
und-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D=
"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span =
style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255=
,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration=
:none;vertical-align:baseline">Travel, venue details, and accommodation rec=
ommendation are available at </span><a href=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" =
style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(1=
7,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;fo=
nt-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalin=
gbitcoin.org</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34)=
;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-v=
ariant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">. Registration =
begins August 12th at an early-bird ticket price of $150 USD until Septembe=
r 3rd. The ticket prices do not come close to covering the venue expense an=
d travel subsidies, hence the need for corporate sponsors.</span></font></p=
></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;color=
:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style=
:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><=
p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><=
font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);backgr=
ound-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:=
normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Please see the FAQ at =
</span><a href=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"text-decoration:none=
"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:tr=
ansparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decora=
tion:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalingbitcoin.org</span></a><span =
style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255=
,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration=
:none;vertical-align:baseline"> which should answer most other questions.</=
span></font></p></li></ul><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=
=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><sp=
an style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,=
255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decorat=
ion:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Travel Subsidies for Independent/Aca=
demic Researchers</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38=
;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-fam=
ily:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight=
:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-al=
ign:baseline">There will be an application process for independent or acade=
mic researchers to apply for travel assistance to help cover the expense of=
 airfare and hotel fees up to $1,000 per qualified presenter who intends to=
 give a presentation.=C2=A0 The four underwriters of this event have agreed=
 to jointly review applications and cover the travel subsidies for qualifie=
d presenters. See </span><a href=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"te=
xt-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);b=
ackground-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-var=
iant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalingbitco=
in.org</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);backg=
round-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant=
:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> for details.</span><=
/font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1=
.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-=
family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-wei=
ght:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;ver=
tical-align:baseline">Sponsors of the Montreal Workshop </span></font></p><=
p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><=
font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);backgroun=
d-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;t=
ext-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The first workshop is hosted a=
nd with logistics handled by the Montreal consultancy </span><a href=3D"htt=
p://cryptomechanics.com" style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font=
-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight=
:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertic=
al-align:baseline">CryptoMechanics</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Ari=
al;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;fo=
nt-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bas=
eline">.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=
=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><sp=
an style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent=
;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none=
;vertical-align:baseline">The Underwriters jointly responsible for venue ex=
penses and researcher travel subsidies are currently the MIT Digital Curren=
cy Initiative, Chaincode Labs, Blockstream, and Chain.com.</span></font></p=
><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margi=
n-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Ar=
ial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-styl=
e:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">=
Current sponsors include: Cryptsy, BitcoinTalk, Final Hash, Blockstream, MI=
T DCI, Chaincode Labs, IDEO Futures, Kraken, and Chain.com.</span></font></=
p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;marg=
in-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:A=
rial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-sty=
le:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"=
>Additional sponsors are needed. Please see </span><a href=3D"https://scali=
ngbitcoin.org" style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Ar=
ial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-=
style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:b=
aseline">scalingbitcoin.org</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;colo=
r:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal=
;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> for spo=
nsorship details or contact me directly via &lt; pindar dot wong at <a href=
=3D"http://gmail.com">gmail.com</a> &gt;</span></font></p><font size=3D"2">=
<br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-b=
ottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,=
0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-vari=
ant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Online Worksh=
op Resources</span></font></p><ul style=3D"margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt=
"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;color:rgb=
(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font=
-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir=3D"ltr=
" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D=
"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:tran=
sparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decorati=
on:none;vertical-align:baseline">Bitcoin-Workshops-Announce list</span><spa=
n style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;=
font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;=
vertical-align:baseline"><br class=3D"kix-line-break"></span><a href=3D"htt=
ps://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops-announce"=
 style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(=
17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;f=
ont-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https=
://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops-announce</s=
pan></a></font></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-=
family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;=
font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:b=
aseline"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bot=
tom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0)=
;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-varian=
t:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Bitcoin-Workshops di=
scussion list</span><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);backg=
round-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:norm=
al;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><br class=3D"kix-line-brea=
k"></span><a href=3D"https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bit=
coin-workshops" style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:A=
rial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font=
-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:=
baseline">https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-worksh=
ops</span></a></font></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc=
;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weigh=
t:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-a=
lign:baseline"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;marg=
in-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(=
0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-=
variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">#bitcoin-works=
hops chat on the Freenode IRC network</span><span style=3D"font-family:Aria=
l;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:=
normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><b=
r class=3D"kix-line-break"></span><a href=3D"http://webchat.freenode.net/?c=
hannels=3Dbitcoin-workshops" style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"=
font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-we=
ight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;ve=
rtical-align:baseline">http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=3Dbitcoin-work=
shops</span></a></font></p></li></ul><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"=
ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=
=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:t=
ransparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decor=
ation:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Call for Proposals/Papers/Presenta=
tions</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:=
0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;co=
lor:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:norm=
al;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">If you=
 have any research relevant to issues surrounding Bitcoin scalability, your=
 proposal for a presentation at the Montreal workshop would be most welcome=
.=C2=A0 Please see </span><a href=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"t=
ext-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);=
background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant=
:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalingbitcoin.o=
rg</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-c=
olor:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text=
-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> for submission details.</span></=
font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.=
38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-f=
amily:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weig=
ht:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-=
align:baseline">Pindar Wong</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-h=
eight:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=
=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255)=
;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none=
;vertical-align:baseline">Chair, Montreal Workshop Planning Committee</span=
></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-=
bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,=
34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;=
font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Chairman,=
 VeriFi (Hong Kong) Ltd.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br><span style=
=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255)=
;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none=
;vertical-align:baseline">[1]</span><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:=
rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:=
normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> <=
/span><a href=3D"https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals" =
style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(1=
7,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;fo=
nt-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https:=
//en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals</span></a></font></div>

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