Every blockchain today relies on replication techniques first developed in the 1980s by researchers who weren't thinking about cryptocurrencies at all.
In this episode, Tim Roughgarden speaks with MIT professor and Turing Award winner Barbara Liskov, one of the pioneers of programming languages, fault tolerance, and distributed systems. Joined by a16z crypto research partner Ittai Abraham, they trace the evolution of ideas that now underpin modern blockchain networks.
The conversation explores viewstamped replication, Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT), state machine replication, and why concepts developed decades before Bitcoin became the foundation for today's blockchain protocols. Along the way, Liskov reflects on the relationship between theory and practice, the importance of modularity and formal reasoning, and why AI is creating a new generation of systems research.
 
Resources:
Follow Tim Roughgarden on X:<a href="https://x.com/Tim_Roughgarden" rel="noopener noreferrer"> https://x.com/Tim_Roughgarden</a>
Follow Ittai Abraham on X:<a href="https://x.com/ittaia" rel="noopener noreferrer"> https://x.com/ittaia</a>
Follow a16z Crypto on X:<a href="https://x.com/a16zcrypto" rel="noopener noreferrer"> https://x.com/a16zcrypto</a>
Subscribe to The a16z Crypto Show:<a href="https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/" rel="noopener noreferrer"> https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/</a>
Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@a16z">YouTube</a>Find a16z on <a href="https://x.com/a16z">X</a>Find a16z on<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z"> LinkedIn</a>Listen to the a16z Show on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX?si=3E8B3qT9TyiwAHJ7JnaKbg">Spotify</a>Listen to the a16z Show on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711">Apple Podcasts</a>Follow our host: <a href="https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg">https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg</a>&nbsp;Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Before Blockchains, There Was State Machine Replication

The a16z Show

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews