Read on Twitter
On May 17th, 2018, @Corpetty sent me an IPFS address ( https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/QmUy4jh5mGNZvLkjies1RWM4YuvJh5o2FYopNPVYwrRVGV) to a paper by a group calling themselves Team Rocket. This paper outlined the consensus primitives leading up to the Avalanche protocol. It seemed interesting, but I was unsure.
I asked @zmanian if he knew what this paper was all about and who Team Rocket was. He did not, but agreed that it seemed it could have merit. I wasn't personally qualified to assess this paper, so I shelved it and put it into the back of my mind.
Then we at @HashingItOutPod heard that the paper had caught the attention of @el33th4xor and he was proselytizing it's amazing properties. He had his PhD candidates @kevinsekniqi and @Tederminant analyze and implement Avalanche, verifying it, and run thousands of simulations.
What they found was a protocol that, for once, delivered on its promises. It is as decentralized as Nakmoto protocols. It has immediate finality like Classical protocols. Its throughput was potentially massive and CPU-bound. It could support a real Proof of Stake Sybil mechanism.
I, however, am not an academic. I have been burned so many times. My skepticism was high. We had @el33th4xor on @HashingItOutPod to hear more about what this protocol could do. It was early, as was my personal education in the topic. I remained skeptical. http://thebitcoinpodcast.com/hashing-it-out-23/
I had shelved the idea again. In May 2019, I was in a personal transition period. I was looking for the right fit and my skepticism of how projects in the space will deliver on their promises was at an all time high. There's legitimacy problem, in my mind, and I want to be legit.
For our 50th episode of @HashingItOutPod , we had @el33th4xor back on the program to discuss @avalabsofficial and the @avalancheavax protocol being developed. http://thebitcoinpodcast.com/hashing-it-out-50/
The pitch was more refined. There were intelligent people backing the Cornell-led team of researchers. I realized the names involved the project are among the best in the field. If anyone can deliver, it is this group. Their reputations depended on it, and that gave me faith.
I sold my house. I packed my bags. I re-homed my beloved cats. I moved to New York City. I joined @avalabsofficial as an early hire, the first outside Cornell, I believe. I'm proud of this decision. It was the right move. I took my time, I was thorough, and I find the right team.
Where am I going with this? @avalabsofficial and the @avalancheavax network have some of the smartest people in decentralization today. If you want to learn from the best, apply to join. We are growing, seeking so many enthusiastic team members. https://jobs.lever.co/avalabs
I do not regret my decision to join this company. You won't either. In a space filled with people throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks, it's nice to finally be around people who can cut past all of that and tell you what makes something sticky.
