Exploring the Impact of Theoretical Computer Science on Blockchains and Web3

Tim Roughgarden (Columbia University) Simons Institute 10th Anniversary Symposium Prasad Raghavendra writes, "Tim Roughgarden spoke about blockchains, but it was really a master class on what a theorist brings to understanding a technology like blockchains. Tim cut through mountains of technicalities about blockchains and gave a succinct, yet comprehensive description of what blockchains essentially are. Paraphrasing Tim here, blockchains are a general-purpose public computer in the sky, with no owner or operator. While anyone can run programs on this computer in the sky, it supports user-owned data and verifies ownership on this data."