[ixfo]

The internet basically only works because small entities have as much standing and control as large entities. This is also why things like RPKI are required, to prevent small (and large!) actors causing disruption through malicious or accidental configuration of e.g. BGP.

Whereas in a blockchain, if you assume the participants are the same set of actors - which would make sense - then it would be very easy for a majority of network control to be held by a Google, an AT&T, a China Telecom, etc.

Introducing third-parties who are not neccesarily involved in the operation of networks to said blockchain also opens up BGP operators to a whole new raft of attacks. Want to blackhole an ASN? If you can convince a smart contract that the routing policy for that ASN is "drop all traffic" then you don't even need to compromise people's routers or muck around with all that messy DDoS stuff.

Bad, bad idea. Just like 99% of stuff with the word "blockchain" in it.

[everfree]

> if you assume the participants are the same set of actors - which would make sense - then it would be very easy for a majority of network control to be held by a Google, an AT&T, a China Telecom, etc.

Why wouldn't one just design such a system to give each entity equal sway over the network? One entity, one vote.

[jimmydorry]

What would stop an entity creating many other entities to sway voting outcomes? This would be referred to as a Sybil attack.

I think you would need something like a web of trust (each entity is responsible for the actors they vouch for). Otherwise, some kind of proof of how many users they represent.

[dgellow]

What would you say are the 1% of stuff with blockchain in the name that aren’t bad ideas?

[rvz]

Don’t bother asking here about anything with the word ‘blockchain’ since not only it is poisonous here, but it is guaranteed to be quickly dismissed without any curiosity of the 1% of applications it may have. Here are a few that are part of that 1%:

[0] https://skiff.org

[1] https://ens.domains

[2] https://impervious.com/beacon