What is Retargeting?
Retargeting is a technique used in blockchain technology to adjust the difficulty of mining new blocks in response to changes in the network's computational power. The goal of retargeting is to maintain a stable and consistent block production rate, even as the network's computational power fluctuates.
In blockchain systems, the difficulty of mining new blocks is adjusted based on the amount of computational power that is available on the network. When more computational power is added to the network, the difficulty of mining new blocks is increased to prevent block production from becoming too fast. Conversely, when computational power is removed from the network, the difficulty of mining new blocks is decreased to prevent block production from becoming too slow.
Retargeting is typically implemented in blockchain systems through a process called difficulty adjustment. This process involves adjusting the target time for block production based on the amount of computational power that is available on the network. If the network is producing blocks too quickly, the target time for block production is increased, making it more difficult to mine new blocks. If the network is producing blocks too slowly, the target time for block production is decreased, making it easier to mine new blocks.
Retargeting is an important aspect of blockchain technology because it helps to ensure that block production remains consistent, even as the network's computational power fluctuates. By maintaining a consistent block production rate, retargeting helps to prevent the network from becoming congested, which can slow down transactions and reduce the overall efficiency of the system.
Simplified Example
Retargeting in blockchain is like a treasure hunt game. Imagine you're playing a treasure hunt game with your friends and you have to find hidden treasures scattered all over the place. To make it harder, the rules of the game say that the treasures can only be found if you solve a certain puzzle or answer a certain question. In blockchain, the puzzle that must be solved is called "proof of work." The nodes in the blockchain network are like players in the treasure hunt game and are responsible for solving the puzzle and finding the treasure (new blocks).
History of the Term "Retargeting"
The concept of showing targeted ads to users based on their past online behavior existed before the term "retargeting" itself. Techniques like "remarketing" and "behavioral targeting" were already in use during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As online advertising became more sophisticated, the need for a more specific term to describe this dynamic ad placement arose. "Retargeting" likely emerged organically within the advertising and marketing community around the mid-2000s. Online forums, industry publications, and conferences became breeding grounds for the term, with various professionals potentially using it interchangeably with other terms like "re-engagement" or "dynamic ad serving."
Examples
Blockchain-based Advertising: Retargeting in blockchain-based advertising involves using blockchain technology to target ads to users based on their interests and behaviors. For example, a blockchain-based advertising platform might use retargeting to show ads to users who have visited a particular website or who have shown an interest in a specific product. By using retargeting, blockchain-based advertising platforms can deliver more relevant and personalized ads to users, improving the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns.
Blockchain-based e-commerce: In blockchain-based e-commerce, retargeting can be used to show ads to users who have shown an interest in a specific product or service. For example, a blockchain-based e-commerce platform might use retargeting to show ads for related products to users who have recently viewed a particular product on the platform. This can help to increase the likelihood of users making a purchase and can help to boost sales for the platform.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Retargeting: In the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, retargeting can be used to show ads for DeFi products and services to users who have shown an interest in these types of products. For example, a DeFi platform might use retargeting to show ads for DeFi investment opportunities to users who have shown an interest in investing in cryptocurrency or other financial products. By using retargeting, DeFi platforms can reach a highly targeted audience and can help to increase the adoption and usage of their products and services.