1st April 2021
In this episode of the DeFi Download, Piers Ridyard interviews Michael O’Rourke. Michael is the co-founder and CEO of the Pocket Network. Pocket allows developers and users to trustlessly access the full API for any blockchain client across a global, distributed network of node operators.
Pocket is a middleware protocol that sits between the user of any DApp and the blockchain that they are accessing. Pocket is not a smart contract platform but an application-specific independent blockchain meant to ensure redundant, cost-efficient infrastructure for DeFi applications.
[00:00:47] What is the primary reason for Pocket’s conception and development?
[00:03:28] What does the term “full node” mean? What is a Bitcoin full node?
[00:04:33] Delving deeper into the “Don’t trust, verify” adage: What are the universal aspects that a user or developer would want to be verifying, rather than trusting the network?
[00: 07:58] How much storage space is currently required to run a full Bitcoin or Ethereum node?
[00: 08:57] What is the user load on Coinbase that necessitates the use of two full nodes for every 1000 people?
[00:10:33] A simplified description of the behind-the-scenes operations of public ledgers dealing with requests while processing a transaction.
[00:14:21] The challenge of running a full node, which dictates interfacing with trusted companies.
[00:17:22] The Pocket alternative: Entities currently running full nodes for their users are no longer forced to pay to operate their own infrastructure directly. They may instead rely on Pocket, a secondary network designed specifically for query requests. How can these entities be assured that the service provided by Pocket is as reliable as running their own node?
[00:21:20] Pocket’s handling of throughput: If an application receives millions of requests every day or hour, how does Pocket ensure that the network remains synchronised and dishonest actors are caught and punished quickly enough?
[00:24:46] Why is Pocket less expensive than rival solutions such as Infura?
[00:32:33] How does Pocket’s security function? Does it use a proof-of-stake algorithm? How does the POKT token work?
[00:35:17] Recent Pocket Network statistics. How many nodes does it have?
[00:37:04] What types of applications has Pocket begun to work with, and what kinds of request data is it currently dealing with, in terms of current usage?
[00:38:31] What difference in experience can a user expect if they switch from using the current MetaMask query nodes provided by MetaMask to using the Pocket network as the query ledger?
Our guest on this episode
Michael O'Rourke
