Think about the BSV network as akin to a large public football (“soccer”) game in the park. It’s a friendly match, but with basic rules everyone understands and agrees to before playing. For instance, players aren’t allowed to handle the ball with their hands unless they’re the goalkeeper.
In this scenario, the BSV Association is like the group organising the game, making sure every player is aware of and follows these rules, which are written in the Bitcoin white paper. The white paper serves as the rule book for the game, focusing on keeping it consistent and fair for all participants.
Joining the football match means you’re accepting its rules. In the same way, miners on the BSV network agree to the rules of the game when they mine BSV. Although the game of football had been played for centuries without written rules, the main laws of the game were codified in 1863 by the Football Association and are still recognisable in the modern game.
Like the laws of football, the growth and maturity of the BSV network has led to the codification and publication of the Network Access Rules (NAR), which miners agree to through a unilateral digital agreement when they start mining that is akin to clicking “I agree.” By starting their mining process, they’re effectively saying I agree to abide by the rules established in the Bitcoin white paper and by the BSV Association (BSVA) as the protocol stewards.
Now, imagine a scenario in a football game where a player blatantly ignores the rules, such as picking up the ball and running with it. In this instance, the referee would blow the whistle, signalling a foul and enforcing the game’s rules through appropriate action. Similarly, in the BSV network, the BSV Association acts akin to the football association, setting and maintaining the rule book – the Network Access Rules (NAR) – based on the principles laid out in the Bitcoin white paper.
The Alert System, on the other hand, functions like the referee on the field. It actively monitors for rule violations and, upon detecting any breaches of the established rules, like a handball attempt to score a goal, it directs all network participants about the infringement and the necessary actions to stay compliant with the NAR.
Just as in football, where a referee’s decision, such as awarding a free kick, leads to collective action by the players (like forming a defensive wall), in the BSV network, it is the collective compliance with the Alert System’s message by the majority of the network that leads to the enforcement of rules, such as the invalidation of blocks or the freezing or reassignment of coins.
This distinct setup ensures that while the BSVA establishes and updates the rules, akin to a football association, the Alert System ensures their active enforcement and adherence, much like a referee does in a football match.
This Alert System message serves as a directive for all miners to respect the rule book of the game or else risk becoming violators of the NAR themselves. As stewards of the network, the BSVA is responsible for these decisions.
To borrow a sentence from the International Football Association Board’s Laws of the Game: “Football, the world’s most popular sport, has one of sport’s smallest Law/rule books. However, like any rule book, the [International Football Association Board]’s official ‘Laws of the Game’ is very detailed and uses technical and sometimes complex language.” This quote illustrates the enduring nature of the rules of football, as the core rules of the game of football have not changed and the original rules are still applicable in the game today. This is akin to the Bitcoin Protocol and the NAR creating a transparent set of rules and procedures to follow that can be adopted anywhere in the world.
Amendments to the Rule Book are reserved for bug fixes or security enhancements, not convenience or arbitrary ‘improvements.’ It’s about preserving the game’s integrity, not altering its essence. There have been technical developments such as the Video Assistant Referee and goal line technology introduced to the game of football, but the game’s core rules are immutable – two teams competing to score more goals. – Similarly, the NAR and BSV Association cannot alter the Bitcoin Protocol in ways that would prevent processing past transactions.
A key aspect of the BSV network is the 100-block maturity rule, like a period of deliberation after a goal in football. This rule allows time to confirm the validity of actions and ensure that no rules were broken in the process. In BSV mining, once a miner successfully creates a block, they must wait for 100 more blocks to be added to the chain before their reward is secure. This waiting period helps avoid disputes and ensures the network’s stability.
Miners breaking the NAR effectively play a different game, creating a separate blockchain state – effectively, a non-BSV blockchain. It’s analogous to someone choosing to play by that player’s own rules, which ultimately leads to isolation since no one wants to play with someone who is not abiding by the rules.
The BSV Association’s role is to ensure lawful play and honesty among network participants, utilising the Alert System to enforce adherence to the rules. Miners accept the NAR not through a click-through contract but through performance. By joining and participating in the network, they demonstrate their acceptance and adherence to its rules. They acknowledge their part in a larger ecosystem where honest play is paramount, and the rules are respected by all. This commitment strengthens the BSV network as a reliable and trustworthy environment for digital transactions.
Disclaimer
The content of this document is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to modify or supersede the contractual rights or obligations of any party to the Network Access Rules. Parties are encouraged to carefully review the Network Access Rules to verify the accuracy of the information presented here. It is assumed that, where necessary, parties will seek guidance from their legal counsel and any other advisors they consider necessary.