Blockchain-based distributed systems—such as cryptocurrencies—are now a major part of the global financial infrastructure and function as a mechanism for storing state and performing computation across a network of machines, with the goal of eliminating the need for centralized trust. These systems run atop global peer-to-peer (P2P) networks via the internet, responsible for disseminating network messages. The structure and operation of these networks directly impact the security and usability of these systems. In this talk I will dive into the intricate ecosystem of these P2P networks, and the nuanced dynamics of financial games within them that have become common place.

About Lucianna Kiffer

Lucianna Kiffer is a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zürich in the Distributed Computing lab and a postdoctoral fellow at the Cyber Defense Center of Switzerland. She received her Ph.D. from Northeastern University in 2022, focusing on the centralizing factors in blockchain systems. Prior to that she received her B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Tulane University. Her research continues to focus on various aspects of the foundations of blockchain protocols and decentralized networks, including measurement studies, analytical evaluations, and building new protocols.

This event will be conducted in English