-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On 11/4/13 11:38 AM, Mike Hearn wrote: > The Merkle branch doesn't get stored indefinitely though, whereas > the coinbase hash does. The data stored in the coinbase [output] > can always just be the 256-bit root hash truncated to less. > > I doubt the additional bytes make much difference really, so the > additional complexity may not be worth it. But it wouldn't be an > issue to do.
The bits make a difference if you are merged mining. You can use the birthday attack to construct two data trees whose hash match the (truncated) value, each containing separate aux block headers. This allows you to double-count the bitcoin PoW for more than one aux block on the same chain, potentially facilitating aux chain attacks. If you want 128 bits of security for merged mined aux chains, you need 256 bits of hash in the coinbase. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG/MacGPG2 v2.0.19 (Darwin) Comment: GPGTools - http://gpgtools.org Comment: Using GnuPG with Thunderbird - http://www.enigmail.net/ iQIcBAEBAgAGBQJSd/shAAoJEAdzVfsmodw48a0P/RaCOctBDvhU0THnsUw6nRBm A8oH3Kpio4ZltU4oIT0tznZbUOG2j2xVrmATqXDYOZQ6FuGihjmkKJ9jHgl57pb5 0qDdCBiEuWtLIh2+Awrb3Y0s8czyCQP9/1CJyzdEFmI8rSwCaqJMa6B2Ny6Xz6+8 eiK45YdXCPgdTAb56FKOi9WzOe0g1aOO5KiUOci22xRkXvh4qPYrt2F0LIgjZTdC koyXU6dcKON9H8Cecu+ag7jJ5A9ZDj7oIq5rflEyolh2V4ie0tGQ50rFGg/ii6iQ Tz9AWwigsHEkuinBTuN5041Xb8nAgHLvA60RQ41lWUHJxfAvDE+wN6NqgHmMVaRo NHqlZcCuEl1jn7HW81XQTpgarrXHk1G7b2vK10pB/lUxUNIstZvCSjcp8QdtmC9v tIhC2czSnsQaE6kIBuHxDNZxOlZ8DxBYCAgXSkycwznwzGhFPP0xB1lV9HfaP5+i aikmx5SQmqBXQQKsxmIacoykrfu5x+O2TB/bq8JhJ1ak2jG9LVFyQqjorABVAgA7 pLEN6EomWht5qstaLVfHYpNsLMf6WA7UzRG08HKItUeDPtG7bDx8vBx5TvIUjT44 A0i09bOt8ZIgp+lJ8lFLWiPLChViAoy7fqKy2vrdsZerOF3l4LUQeQO/xnfZc+dG AEG+7iCBOMxJSVoJ5bP6 =nydG -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Android is increasing in popularity, but the open development platform that developers love is also attractive to malware creators. Download this white paper to learn more about secure code signing practices that can help keep Android apps secure. http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=65839951&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk _______________________________________________ Bitcoin-development mailing list Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development