Chronopunk: A novel (Episode 14)
If you went back in time, what knowledge would you gift the past to save the future?
Chapter 41
Chicago Board of Trade 2009
Mody sits in the gallery of the Chicago Board of Trade, watching the bustling scene below as traders shout over one another. He’s particularly intrigued by the corn futures pit, where a dozen or so men in odd-looking jackets conduct their chaotic business.
“This is what it’s all about,” he thinks.
“Trade in its rawest form—no frills, no titles, no one pulling the strings. Just men shouting, relying on nobody, trusting nothing but the words spoken by their immediate counterpart, and keeping the gears of commerce turning, one deal at a time.”
Mody enjoys sitting in the gallery not just for the thrill of the trading floor, but because it’s the most air-conditioned spot in the entire city. Chicago summers are far more brutal than its winters, and his stifling office on the twelfth floor feels more like a steam room than a workspace. The cool, refreshing air of the trading pit makes this place the perfect escape.
He holds a paper in his hands, scanning its contents briefly before setting it aside, his gaze drifting back to the traders below. After a pause, he picks it up again and jots down a few notes.
It’s been about eight months since the Bitcoin white paper was released. Mody is still fine-tuning a few modifications, but overall, the launch has been a success. The protocol appears to be functioning—at least at the scale they've tested so far. He knows there’s still a long road ahead, but he’s convinced the journey will be worth it.
Suddenly, his eyes well up as he reads a particular passage. He can’t help but remember how Lisa had poured every ounce of her intellect and emotional energy into convincing him to include this specific section of the Bitcoin paper.
The heated debates around the proof-of-work concept—“the lifeblood of the Bitcoin project,” as Lisa so often called it—still echo in his mind. Her brilliant cryptographer, Stanley, had developed the core idea. Some had doubted its viability, arguing it was too cumbersome and called for a more equitable distribution of power.
Yet in the end, they all came to see that proof of work was the only feasible answer to the fundamental challenge of building a truly decentralized and trustless payment network.
Mody wipes his tears, remembering how deeply Lisa had believed in the proof-of-work concept. One of the greatest challenges her team faced was bridging the enormous gap between the advanced hardware of the late 2050s—when they wrote the Bitcoin white paper—and the computing infrastructure of 2008, the era in which Mody was tasked with implementing it.
In those fifty years, computing had transformed radically. Back in 2008, networks operated in what scientists of that time quaintly referred to as a one-dimensional space: reality. For Mody, who had witnessed the vast potential of quantum computing and multiverse parallelism, the concept of "reality" as understood in the 2000s felt as primitive as talking about a flat Earth—or the Ether.
When Moore’s Law was superseded by Mongarthy’s Law in the early 2050s, computing took another giant leap. While Gordon Moore had predicted exponential growth in processing power, Mongarthy’s work introduced a more radical principle: that problem-solving speed accelerates as complexity increases.
The result was a world where the infrastructure available to Lisa’s team when they wrote the Bitcoin white paper was orders of magnitude more advanced than anything that existed in 2008.
Mody’s key task was to recalibrate the paper to fit the technological constraints of 2008—the era in which he was set to introduce the cryptocurrency. Lisa’s generative AI had handled most of the heavy lifting, providing broad solutions. But Mody still had to fine-tune the system, adapting it to the harsh limitations of early-21st-century computing.
Chapter 42
Colorado 2064
“These days, math is more like an inverse search problem. You define the question, and it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack—except now, we solve it by eliminating the haystack.”
Stanley chuckles, then looks around the room.
“Take prime factorization, for example. You ask for the factors of a number, and the system runs through all possible versions of that question, cutting away everything except the one valid answer—which, of course, is correct.
He chuckles again, like a nervous twitch moving the edges of his lips.
“Ironically, the more iterations you throw at it, the better it works. In other words, quantum computing thrives on complexity. It’s the complete opposite of classical computation.”
“As you all know, I’m a bit of a history buff—especially when it comes to the history of science,” Stanley says with a slight grin.
“There was a time when the traveling salesman problem was considered practically unsolvable. Now, it’s basically the ‘hello world’ of problem-solving. Funny, isn’t it?” He pauses, a thoughtful look softening his face.
“Our quantum algorithms can handle basic math—although that’s not what they are designed for. The real heavy lifting happens in the ‘matching process,’ or the needle in the haystack removal,” he continues. “And of course, that’s exponentially more complex than anything our predecessors had to deal with back in 2006.”
Stanley writes a few lines on a whiteboard.
“Writing the Bitcoin white paper today for an audience fifty years in the past is like asking Geoffrey Hinton to explain neural nets to Leibniz. The concepts might be recognizable, but the technological context is worlds apart. Back in 2006, computation was still dominated by the Von Neumann architecture—a model that drew clear distinctions between data, input, output, memory, compute, and storage. This so-called classical computing viewed the world in discrete terms. A bit here, a bit there—and any processing required physically moving those bits from one place to another.
He draws a circle around the words ‘Von Neumann Compute’, then draws a line to another circle which says ‘Quantum’.
But that’s not how computation works in the 2060s. Quantum computing architectures operate under fundamentally different principles. One of the biggest shifts is that most computation now happens by elimination. Guide waves interfere—or cancel each other out. Most modern quantum algorithms excel at solving ‘needle in a haystack’ problems by simply canceling out the haystack.”
"Thank you," General Douglas interrupts with a condescending tone, waving dismissively at Stanley, clearly unaware of his name.
"Stanley, sir," Stanley replies, keeping his composure.
"Right, Stanley," General Douglas presses on. "What does this elaborate history lesson on computer science have to do with our current problem?"
"Sir, we're navigating an entirely different reality in 2006," Stanley explains. "It's like trying to convince flat-Earthers they can sail around the globe and return to their starting point—impossible from their perspective. We need to bridge these two worlds: the linear reality of 2006 and our own, with its multidimensional complexity."
Douglas's face darkens, his expression grim. Lisa senses the tension coiling in the room. Few things aggravate an army general more than being lectured, and this is unmistakably one of those moments. Stanley, oblivious to the dynamic, presses on, but Lisa knows better—she’s endured the sting of military impatience more times than she cares to recall. She forges ahead:
"Sir, Stanley’s point is that we’re grappling with two entirely different concepts of a 'network.' In 2006, a network meant computers linked to process and store individual transactions. Today, 'network' has evolved into a 'multiverse.' Our Bitcoin protocol now relies on quantum entanglement, serving as both the transaction layer and the ledger—a concept unimaginable in 2006. We need to find a way to connect these two realities."
Douglas nods, his expression softening. Stanley wonders if the general truly grasps the nuances of 21st-century networking and its implications for Bitcoin. Undeterred, he continues.
"Since the cypherpunks envisioned a decentralized, trustless payment network in the 1980s, they’ve wrestled with the Byzantine Generals Problem."
Douglas eyes Lisa suspiciously, intrigued by the term "Generals". He might not grasp the concept, but the word, he surely knows.
Lisa interrupts, "Sorry, Stanley, let me clarify. The Byzantine Generals Problem illustrates the challenge of decentralized, trustless networks. Picture a Byzantine general in the heat of battle, sending a messenger with orders to a lieutenant. There’s no guarantee the messenger will deliver the message accurately—or at all. Worse, the lieutenant can’t verify if the orders are genuine, correct, or truly from the general."
General Douglas scowls. “Welcome to the battle field. Soldiers have been dealing with mess like that since the invention of war.”
"Sir," Stanley replies, "in 2006, this 'mess' was a major hurdle. Computer networks required central control, which is why companies like Amazon and Google dominated—they acted as authorities validating transactions. Similarly, central banks like the Fed managed global financial systems. The cypherpunks, a group of cryptography enthusiasts, believed encryption could solve the Byzantine Generals Problem. Back then, decentralization and trust seemed at odds. Today, that’s no longer true."
“Why not?” Douglas asks.
Stanley presses on, “Because today’s technology resolves this through physics. Our network uses entangled photons that inherently communicate, store, and update information simultaneously. Critically, a malicious hacker can’t alter this data or double-spend funds. Quantum information processing embeds the solution to the Byzantine Generals Problem within its physics, serving as both the operating system and the backbone of the Bitcoin protocol.” He pauses, then adds, “But this elegant solution won’t exist in 2008, when our operative is set to launch Bitcoin.”
Douglas cuts Stanley off with an irritated wave. “We know that, damn it. That’s why we’re here.”
He scans the room, a smirk spreading across his weathered face, then breaking into a grin. But his expression darkens abruptly, and the sparse hair on his forehead sways as he turns to Lisa. “How do we explain this to those 2006 primitives who don’t even have the physics to get it? Their Bitcoin network needs something else to run on. But what?”
Lisa meets Douglas’s gaze, momentarily unsettled by his abrasive tone. Though accustomed to military hardliners like him, their overbearing nature still grates on her. She’s often imagined societies free of such bullies, even running AI simulations to explore how they might evolve. To her dismay, these models—despite her careful designs incorporating tolerance, equity, empathy, and justice—inevitably produce societies ruled by some form of bully, whether a general, politician, bureaucrat, or activist cloaked in altruism. Lisa has come to see bullies not as a flaw but as a fixture of human nature. Resigned to this reality, she’s honed her skill at managing them, and she’s gotten good at it.
Lisa responds calmly, “We’ve built a 2008 simulation, tailored to its technical and cultural limits. Our operative, Mody, has trained for months to adapt Bitcoin’s technology to that era’s constraints.”
She glances at Mody, then continues, “The real challenge is pinpointing our position within the multiverse’s precise coordinates.”
Douglas cuts in, “Speak plain English!”
Lisa presses on, “Fine, I’ll simplify. We’re sending Mody back in time, but time isn’t a single path—it’s a multiverse of countless possibilities. To succeed, we must pinpoint the scenario most likely to make Bitcoin legal tender by 2060, our mission’s goal. Physics tells us there are near-infinite versions of 2008 we could target.”
“Needle in a haystack,” Douglas grumbles.
“Exactly, sir,” Lisa says. “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Our algorithms haven’t narrowed down the possibilities enough to pinpoint Mody’s destination. Too many versions of 2008 remain in play.”
Douglas eyes her warily, his suspicion palpable.
“And?” Douglas presses.
Lisa replies, “Sir, it comes down to trial and error. After consulting experts, including Professor Mongarthy, we’ve determined that algorithms alone won’t suffice.”
She nods at Stanley to continue.
“Mody will need to connect with 2008’s computer network experts and pitch the Bitcoin white paper in terms they’ll understand,” Stanley explains. “With luck, they’ll embrace it and adapt our concepts to their systems.”
“You want what?” Douglas roars, his face flushing red as he slams a meaty hand on the metal table.
“You can’t expose our operative to them!” Douglas bellows. “That’s a non-starter, established from day one. Look, Lisa, I may not grasp the multiverse or time travel, but my superiors drilled one thing into me: ‘No one—absolutely no one—outside our inner circle can know about this mission.’
Douglas presses on, “Revealing ourselves to 2008 risks everything. It could jeopardize the project and Mody himself. If he’s exposed, his temporal parameters would shift, making recovery nearly impossible. I won’t allow it.” He locks eyes with Lisa.
“Lisa, I’ve backed this project from the start. I get the financial crisis we’re facing and how sending Mody to 2008 could turn things around. I’m all in. But the mission hinges on one rule: ‘they can never know who we are.’”
Lisa meets Douglas’s gaze, unflinching. “Sir, we understand the risks of exposing Mody’s origins. He’s been trained to collaborate only with a handful of vetted experts critical to the mission’s success. Our models predict their cooperation with high confidence. Implementing Bitcoin in 2008 requires local expertise—our algorithms, though advanced, can’t fully automate the process. Human feedback from these experts will refine our model’s parameters, ensuring we target the optimal 2008 timeline in the multiverse. To address Bitcoin’s trust issue, we’ll use Zero Knowledge Proofs, a 1980s technology, as a temporary bridge until quantum cryptography emerges. Mody will work with select 2008 experts to integrate ZKPs and other solutions to make Bitcoin viable. We can’t tailor our protocol perfectly to 2008’s limitations, but this approach will bridge the gap. Only a few need to be involved, and we’re confident it’ll launch Bitcoin successfully. We can’t send Mody back with a quantum engine when the world’s still using horse-drawn carts.”
Douglas drums his thick fingers on the metal table, frustration etched on his face. But instead of shouting, he adopts a measured tone. “Lisa, I’ve been patient. I’ve been curious. Hell, I’ve even played nice. Now you’re boxing me in. I can green-light a mission to save our economy from collapse, but you’re asking me to risk exposing our operative—a move that could unravel everything. It’s a lose-lose, damn it!”
Lisa nods, a flicker of relief crossing her face. She’s worked with Douglas long enough to know his profanity signals he’s grudgingly on board.
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