Developer Paul Sztorc Launches the First Version of Drivechain

On September 24, director of research at Tierion and Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc announced the launch of the first Drivechain release. The Drivechain protocol is an alternative to the sidechain concept because it enables multiple blockchain compatibilities but the system utilizes the same 21 million bitcoins.

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Testdrive: The First Drivenet Test Release

This week Paul Sztorc has unveiled the first release of his open source project Drivechain, a protocol that allows a variety of alternative blockchains to work in unison with the BTC network. A Drivechain is similar to the sidechain concept initiated in 2014, but Drivechain works with other blockchain networks so they all agree with Nakamoto consensus and share the same 21 million bitcoin ruleset. Satoshi also vaguely discussed the idea of sidechains and multi-blockchain connectivity on June 17, 2010. Sztorc’s Drivechain system claims to allow permissionless innovation without diluting the value of the main cryptocurrency. Because a Drivechain is aligned with Nakamoto consensus it offers the security of the network but with an expanded set of services like smart contracts.

Sztorc has been working on the Drivechain project for quite some time now, and last December we reported on the two Drivechain BIP proposals Sztorc submitted for review and feedback. This week Sztorc explains he is pleased to announce the first Drivechain version called Testdrive and notes that the release is in two parts.

“Testdrive is our first drivenet test release — It certainly isn’t perfect — We are still working on it,” Sztorc writes in the Drivechain release announcement.

The developer continues by emphasizing:

Nonetheless, it’s good to be able to show people what exactly Drivechain does: it allows Bitcoin to travel among different pieces of software.

Expanding on Top of the Mono-Chain Without Controversy and in a Permissionless Fashion

Sztorc further details that if the “multi-network coin” concept is practical it could change a lot of things within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. It could theoretically squash consensus upgrade feature infighting and political discourse by allowing permissionless innovation.

“Bitcoin would be able to copy, without controversy, any technology, including: larger blocks, Turing-completeness, and ring signatures,” Sztorc details in the Drivechain announcement.

In some earlier writings, Sztorc has explained some of the issues with the ‘mono-chain setup.’ The developer details that the technology comes with economic trade-offs but only one group can have their choice of the most optimal feature. Other token features could be implemented to the main protocol without years of disagreements.

“Bitcoin is supposed to be used as money, but if it cannot be used on some networks, it is constrained as a medium of exchange – and therefore at a competitive disadvantage,” Sztorc notes on the Drivechain website.

Lastly, is not just an exclusive project for BTC. Sztorc explained today that Drivechain could also be integrated to work with the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network.

“Furthermore, due to our use of a “UTXO loader”, it will be very easy to release a version for BCH users — Unlike most people, I’m happy to be agnostic in this regard — Let the users exercise their sovereignty,” Sztorc explains on Twitter.

What do you think about Paul Sztorc’s Drivechain? Let us know what you think about this project in the comment section below.

Images via Shutterstock, Pixabay, and Twitter.

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