Chia Network is a decentralized peer-to-peer blockchain protocol relying on proof of space time concepts for achieving consensus. The Chia Network protocol is being developed by a team led by Bram Cohen, the creator of BitTorrent. Chia network utilizes a blockchain in which the network is secured by individuals called farmers (as opposed to the "Miner" terminology commonly used among other cryptocurrencies) who generate Chia Network monetary rewards through allocation of memory of disk space.
In order to help secure the network, including protection against attackers trying to replay the entire history of the blockchain, Chia Network also utilizes Proofs of Space. These proofs are intended to ensure that a certain amount of time has passed between the addition of each block in the blockchain, making it difficult to create a longer blockchain than the rest of the network in a shorter amount of time.
Timeline
People
Bram Cohen
Krzysztof Pietrzak
Ryan Singer
Further reading
Altcoin Created by BitTorrent’s Cohen To Combat “Bitcoin Flaws”
William Suberg
BitTorrent Creator’s Chia Could ‘Fix’ Bitcoin With Own Altcoin By Late 2018
William Suberg
BitTorrent inventor announces eco-friendly bitcoin competitor Chia
Josh Constine
Simple Proofs of Sequential Work
Bram Cohen and Krzysztof Pietrzak
Academic paper