Wait what?! Gridcoin Research is already four years old??
It is true.
Following about a year of a PoW version of Gridcoin, Gridcoin Research staked its first block on Saturday, October 11th, 2014, GMT. The exact date and time of the genesis block is:
GMT: Saturday, October 11, 2014 1:22:57 PM
This means our birthday is this Thursday and Friday (depending on your timezone).
What Gridcoin Research Did
With Gridcoin Research came a dual incentive blockchain. The first incentive rewards blockchain security through a fairly standard PoS protocol. The second and entirely novel incentive mints a chunk of GRC and distributes them to participants of the giant distributed super computer, BOINC. The more processing power you contribute to BOINC the more of that chunk of GRC you earn.
Sciencia Humana Libertas
Over the past four years Gridcoin has brought data scientists and distributed computation enthusiasts into the same room as blockchain and cryptocurrency tech-heads. The result has been nothing short of inspiring. While working to advance economic liberty for individuals through blockchain technology and principles, the Gridcoin network has helped complete real, useful work in the fields of biology, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, physics, history, and engineering, to name a few.
The Future of Gridcoin Research
The past few years have seen a massive influx of development and contribution to the Gridcoin protocol and network. We have new economic structures on testnet (CBR), new GUI assets designed and ready for implementation, several fascinating potential mechanism changes under development or in discussion (MRC, TCD, DWP), and governance and management structures taking shape around funding, marketing, outreach, and services.
There is certainly much to do if Gridcoin is to continue to grow and maintain its relevance in a quickly crowding sector, but it would seem that we are well on our way to a bright future.
For anyone looking to help build the foundational structures and systems, now is definitely the time to step up.
Celebrations
To celebrate our four year birthday, a group of Gridcoin developers and community members have pooled some GRC to fund at least one competition and a surprise later in the week.
Keep an eye out!
Otherwise, happy birthday Gridcoin Research!
Keep on crunchin'.