Bitcoin and Beyond

We survey extant literature on the economics of blockchain fundamentals with particular focus on Bitcoin, Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake. We formally clarify Bitcoin’s economic significance in solving the double-spending problem without a centralized entity. We then transition to the economics literature, highlighting the key endogenous economic interactions among participants in the Bitcoin ecosystem as well as the economics of Proof-of-Stake and other potential consensus algorithms. Along the way, we discuss various literature that provides important insights regarding fees, forks and price volatility. We conclude by reflecting on the next generation of blockchain innovations