Bitcoin Shows Resilience to Physical Attacks
The results of the Cambridge University study bring optimism to Bitcoin supporters. According to the data obtained, the cryptocurrency is able to maintain its operability even with the severance of 72% of the world's submarine cables that provide internet connectivity.
The study covered an 11-year period and 68 confirmed cases of submarine cable damage. This allowed the scientists to conclude that the physical infrastructure of Bitcoin is much more resilient than previously thought. Moreover, the widespread use of the Tor network actually strengthens the security of the Bitcoin network.
However, experts warn that Bitcoin is still vulnerable to targeted attacks on key hosting providers. If attackers can disrupt the work of just 5 such providers, it could paralyze the entire Bitcoin network.
Expert Opinion
The results of this study are indeed impressive and demonstrate the high resilience of Bitcoin's infrastructure to physical damage. However, one cannot forget that the cryptocurrency is still in a development stage, and its security largely depends on a small number of key players.
Although an attack on 5 hosting providers may be a technically challenging task, such a possibility cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is important to continue working on increasing the decentralization of the Bitcoin network in order to minimize the risks associated with the vulnerability of its infrastructure.