Recorded X Space with @glitchin888 and @12stringcara.
This live stream is episode 10 of the "Blockchain Banter: Beneath the Surface" series, hosted by Cara and Juan. The focus of the event is deep discussion around Kaspa (KAS), a proof-of-work cryptocurrency project built on the innovative blockDAG architecture (via the GHOSTDAG protocol), its ecosystem, and how it positions itself against Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The session covers experiences from recent in-person events (like Tokenize in London), community building, technical discussions about mining, network scalability, transaction weighting mechanisms (e.g., harmonic mass for efficient resource use), and challenges of mainstream adoption. The hosts explore the human side of crypto communities, the importance of energy, in-person connection, and philosophical questions on decentralization and sovereignty. Guest speaker Kaspa Onion joins for an in-depth breakdown of Bitcoin's technical limitations versus Kaspa, and the future of network incentives and sustainability.Guest Biographies: Kaspa Onion: Former Bitcoiner with eight years of experience, now a Kaspa maximalist. Known for deep technical knowledge, especially around Bitcoin's scalability issues, mining economics, network security, and Kaspa's technology. Onion regularly hosts educational spaces on X (Twitter) and is recognized by the community for his insightful analysis and friendly banter.
Top Topics Discussed: Real-Life Networking & Kaspa Community Energy Juan shares highlights from attending Tokenize in London, describing the palpable energy at the Kaspa booth compared to other industry booths. The organic, unscripted way community members engaged visitors showed genuine grassroots enthusiasm, with strong interpersonal connections and authentic vibes—a contrast to more corporate crypto projects.
Bitcoin's Scalability Crisis and Lightning Network Limitations Kaspa Onion provides a technical breakdown of Bitcoin's base layer limitations (roughly 7 TPS / ~800k tx/day), describing the risks of congested transactions if mass adoption occurs. He details the problems with the Lightning Network, such as queueing for channel openings and the lack of sustainable miner incentives, explaining how these could lead to a future bank run scenario for Bitcoin holders.
Kaspa's Transaction Weighting, Mass Calculation, and Security Budget A deep dive into how Kaspa can sustain itself post-block subsidy through innovative mechanisms like transaction mass/harmonic weighting (fees scaled by data usage, sigops, and script size) and high-throughput design—enabling the network to handle massive scale (currently 10 blocks per second, with goals for 100 BPS and thousands of TPS). Discussion includes how expanding utility and new use cases boost miner rewards, and why Kaspa is positioned to uncouple security from coin price better than Bitcoin.
Philosophical & Human Elements of Decentralization The hosts explore themes of energy, connection, sovereignty, and the spiritual aspects of blockchain. They discuss how plant medicine, openness, and treating others as a reflection of oneself can enrich community building. They also touch on AI's role in making cryptography and Kaspa's technology more accessible, and how decentralization is a liberating force.
Kaspa's Ecosystem Growth, In-Person Events, and Adoption Strategies The future of Kaspa adoption is discussed, with Cara sharing ideas around crypto-smart contracts for book royalties and payment platforms, as well as Kaspa's role in large-scale technological change (AI, data centers, KII's satellite nodes). The importance of continued community-driven education is emphasized, with the hosts setting the tone for building bridges across difference
