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From: Mark Friedenbach <mark@friedenbach.org>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:13:14 -0700
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To: Pindar Wong <pindar.wong@gmail.com>
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Cc: Bitcoin Dev <bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org>
Subject: Re: [bitcoin-dev] CFP Bitcoin Scalability Workshop (Sept 12-13),
 Montreal Canada
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I want to put a big thank-you out to Pindar, Warren, and others in the
organizing committee who I know must have put in a lot of hours to make
this happen. I will be attending, and I hope to see many of you there too.
It is my sincere hope that the academic structure of a workshop will help
break down some of the communication walls that have arisen in this debate,
and help us all work towards finding a compromise towards scaling bitcoin,
something we all want to see happen.

On Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 1:45 AM, Pindar Wong via bitcoin-dev <
bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org> wrote:

> 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 wit=
h
> academic discipline and analysis that fully considers the complex tradeof=
fs
> between decentralization, utility, security and operational realities. Th=
is
> may be considered as similar in intent and process to the NIST-SHA3 desig=
n
> 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 t=
o
> collect requirements as broadly as possible, and through the process
> enhance everyone=E2=80=99s understanding of the technical properties of B=
itcoin 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 Bitco=
in
> blockchain involves implicit trade offs of desired properties of the whol=
e
> system. As a community we need to raise awareness of the complex and subt=
le
> 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 a=
nalysis 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=
 specific
> proposals in the time between the workshops.
>
> Phase 2 will be planned out further as part of Phase 1 with input from th=
e
> 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 fo=
r
> scaling Bitcoin against the requirements gathered in Phase 1. Multiple
> 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 tra=
nsaction
> 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 questio=
ns to
>    the event.
>    -
>
>    These workshops aim to facilitate the existing Bitcoin Improvement
>    Proposals (BIP)[1] process. Most work will be done outside of the work=
shops
>    in the intervening months. The workshops serve to be additive to the d=
esign
>    and review process by raising awareness of diverse points of view, stu=
dies,
>    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 pr=
ices
>    do not come 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 t=
o
> 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-a=
nnounce
>    -
>
>    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
>
> _______________________________________________
> bitcoin-dev mailing list
> bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org
> https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-dev
>
>

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Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>I want to put a big thank-you out to Pindar, Warren, =
and others in the organizing committee who I know must have put in a lot of=
 hours to make this happen. I will be attending, and I hope to see many of =
you there too. It is my sincere hope that the academic structure of a works=
hop will help break down some of the communication walls that have arisen i=
n this debate, and help us all work towards finding a compromise towards sc=
aling bitcoin, something we all want to see happen.</div></div><div class=
=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 1:4=
5 AM, Pindar Wong via bitcoin-dev <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:b=
itcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org" target=3D"_blank">bitcoin-dev@lists.l=
inuxfoundation.org</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quot=
e" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">=
<div dir=3D"ltr"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;ma=
rgin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rg=
b(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:no=
rmal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Bitc=
oin Scalability Workshops</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-hei=
ght: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:rgb(255,255,255);font-w=
eight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertic=
al-align:baseline">In recent months the Bitcoin development community has f=
aced difficult discussions of how to safely improve the scalability and dec=
entralized nature of the Bitcoin network. To aid the technical consensus bu=
ilding process we are organizing a pair of workshops to collect technical c=
riteria, present proposals and evaluate technical materials and data with a=
cademic 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 c=
ritical application.</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 siz=
e=3D"2"><span 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 w=
ith many stakeholders, it is important to collect requirements as broadly a=
s possible, and through the process enhance everyone=E2=80=99s understandin=
g of the technical properties of Bitcoin to help foster an inclusive, trans=
parent, and informed process.</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">Those with technical =
interest are invited to participate in this pair of workshops with the foll=
owing intent:</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" s=
tyle=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-dec=
oration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Phase 1: Scene setting, evaluati=
on criteria, 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:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseli=
ne"> =C2=A0</span></font></p><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(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;f=
ont-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:ba=
seline">Montreal, Canada: September 12th-13th, 2015</span><span style=3D"fo=
nt-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;verti=
cal-align:baseline"><br><br></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:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none=
;vertical-align:baseline">Scalability is not a single parameter; there are =
many opportunities to make the Bitcoin protocol more efficient and better a=
ble to service the needs of its growing userbase. Each approach to further =
scaling the Bitcoin blockchain involves implicit trade offs of desired prop=
erties of the whole system. As a community we need to raise awareness of th=
e complex and subtle issues involved, facilitate deeper research and testin=
g of existing proposals, and motivate future work in this area.</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">The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the general tradeof=
fs and requirements of </span><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34=
,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:italic=
;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">any </sp=
an><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rg=
b(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-d=
ecoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">proposal to scale Bitcoin beyond it=
s present limits. Session topics are to include the presentation of experim=
ental data relating to known bottlenecks of Bitcoin=E2=80=99s continued gro=
wth and analysis of implicit tradeoffs involved in general strategies for e=
nabling future growth.</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:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:norma=
l;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">This event will not host se=
ssions on the topic of any specific proposals involving changes to the Bitc=
oin 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 specific proposals in the time betw=
een the workshops. </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-colo=
r:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;te=
xt-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Phase 2 will be planned out fur=
ther 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:Ari=
al;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;fo=
nt-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-alig=
n:baseline">Phase 2: Presentation and review of technical proposals, with s=
imulation, benchmark results.</span><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"> =
=C2=A0</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;c=
olor:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-s=
tyle:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baselin=
e">Hong Kong, SAR, China: TBD Nov/Dec 2015</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(51,51,51);background-color:rgb=
(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-de=
coration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Hopefully to be easier for the Chine=
se miners to attend, the second workshop pertaining to actual block size pr=
oposals is to be planned for Hong Kong roughly in the late November to Dece=
mber 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:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rg=
b(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-d=
ecoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The purpose of this workshop is to =
present and review actual proposals for scaling Bitcoin against the require=
ments gathered in Phase 1. Multiple competing proposals will be presented, =
with experimental data, and compared against each other. The goal is to rai=
se awareness of scalability issues and build a pathway toward consensus for=
 increasing Bitcoin=E2=80=99s transaction processing capacity or, barring t=
hat, identify key areas of further required research and next steps for mov=
ing forward.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" st=
yle=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2">=
<span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(38,38,38);background-color:rgb(2=
55,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-deco=
ration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Preliminarily, Phase 2 will be a time =
to share results from experiments performed as a result of Phase 1 and an o=
pportunity to discuss new developments.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><=
br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bo=
ttom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(38,38=
,38);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;fo=
nt-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">How do=
 the Workshops work?</span></font></p><ul style=3D"margin-top:0pt;margin-bo=
ttom:0pt"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;c=
olor:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-s=
tyle:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baselin=
e"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0p=
t"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);ba=
ckground-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-vari=
ant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Both events will b=
e live-streamed with remote participation facilitated via IRC for parallel =
online discussion and passing questions to the event.</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:norm=
al;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);background-=
color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:norma=
l;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">These workshops aim to faci=
litate the existing Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIP)[1] process. Most wo=
rk will be done outside of the workshops in the intervening months. The wor=
kshops serve to be additive to the design and review process by raising awa=
reness of diverse points of view, studies, simulations, and proposals.</spa=
n></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:40=
0;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-b=
ottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,3=
4,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;f=
ont-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Travel, ve=
nue details, and accommodation recommendation are available at </span><a hr=
ef=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"text-decoration:none" target=3D"=
_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-co=
lor:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-=
decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalingbitcoin.org</span></a>=
<span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(2=
55,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-deco=
ration:none;vertical-align:baseline">. Registration begins August 12th at a=
n early-bird ticket price of $150 USD until September 3rd. The ticket price=
s do not come close to covering the venue expense and travel subsidies, hen=
ce the need for corporate sponsors.</span></font></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" s=
tyle=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);backgrou=
nd-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:no=
rmal;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 s=
tyle=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">Please see the FAQ at </span><a href=3D"https=
://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"text-decoration:none" target=3D"_blank"><sp=
an style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transpa=
rent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:=
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"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">Travel Subsidies for Independent/Academic =
Researchers</span></font></p><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(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;f=
ont-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:ba=
seline">There will be an application process for independent or academic re=
searchers to apply for travel assistance to help cover the expense of airfa=
re 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 jo=
intly review applications and cover the travel subsidies for qualified pres=
enters. See </span><a href=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"text-dec=
oration:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(=
17,85,204);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:nor=
mal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration: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"> for deta=
ils.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"l=
ine-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span st=
yle=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,2=
55);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:u=
nderline;vertical-align:baseline">Sponsors of the Montreal Workshop </span>=
</font></p><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:400;font-style:normal;font-vari=
ant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The first workshop=
 is hosted and with logistics handled by the Montreal consultancy </span><a=
 href=3D"http://cryptomechanics.com" style=3D"text-decoration:none" target=
=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);backgroun=
d-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;t=
ext-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">CryptoMechanics</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-dec=
oration:none;vertical-align:baseline">.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><=
br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bo=
ttom: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-varia=
nt:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The Underwriters jo=
intly responsible for venue expenses and researcher travel subsidies are cu=
rrently the MIT Digital Currency Initiative, Chaincode Labs, Blockstream, a=
nd Chain.com.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></font><p dir=3D"ltr" s=
tyle=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:transpa=
rent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:=
none;vertical-align:baseline">Current sponsors include: Cryptsy, BitcoinTal=
k, Final Hash, Blockstream, MIT 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;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2=
"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transp=
arent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration=
:none;vertical-align:baseline">Additional sponsors are needed. Please see <=
/span><a href=3D"https://scalingbitcoin.org" style=3D"text-decoration:none"=
 target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);ba=
ckground-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalingbitcoin.org=
</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-col=
or:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-d=
ecoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> for sponsorship details or contact=
 me directly via &lt; pindar dot wong at <a href=3D"http://gmail.com" targe=
t=3D"_blank">gmail.com</a> &gt;</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br></fon=
t><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);backgr=
ound-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:norma=
l;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Online Workshop Resour=
ces</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);b=
ackground-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"><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">Bitcoin-Workshops-Announce list</span><span style=
=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-we=
ight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertica=
l-align:baseline"><br></span><a href=3D"https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/m=
ailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops-announce" style=3D"text-decoration:none" =
target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);bac=
kground-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:no=
rmal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https://lists.linux=
foundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops-announce</span></a></font=
></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial;c=
olor:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:nor=
mal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p di=
r=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-co=
lor:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-=
decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Bitcoin-Workshops discussion list<=
/span><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:tr=
ansparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decora=
tion:none;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><a href=3D"https://lists.linu=
xfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops" style=3D"text-decoratio=
n:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,=
204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-va=
riant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https://lis=
ts.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-workshops</span></a></font>=
</p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;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"><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-col=
or:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-d=
ecoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">#bitcoin-workshops chat on the Free=
node IRC network</span><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);ba=
ckground-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:n=
ormal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><a href=3D"h=
ttp://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=3Dbitcoin-workshops" style=3D"text-dec=
oration:none" target=3D"_blank"><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">http:=
//webchat.freenode.net/?channels=3Dbitcoin-workshops</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-f=
amily:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;f=
ont-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-ali=
gn:baseline">Call for Proposals/Papers/Presentations</span></font></p><p di=
r=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-co=
lor:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;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"text-decoration:none" target=
=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);backgroun=
d-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;t=
ext-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">scalingbitcoin.org</span>=
</a><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"> 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-family:Ari=
al;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;fo=
nt-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:bas=
eline">Pindar Wong</span></font></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.3=
8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-fa=
mily:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weigh=
t:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-a=
lign: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);back=
ground-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-varian=
t:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Chairman, VeriFi (Ho=
ng Kong) Ltd.</span></font></p><font size=3D"2"><br><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">[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 hre=
f=3D"https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals" style=3D"tex=
t-decoration:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial;color=
:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:nor=
mal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">=
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_Improvement_Proposals</span></a></font><=
/div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
bitcoin-dev mailing list<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org">bitcoin-dev@lists.=
linuxfoundation.org</a><br>
<a href=3D"https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/bitcoin-dev" =
rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mail=
man/listinfo/bitcoin-dev</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>

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