Andrew Poelstra

Andrew Poelstra is a mathematician who works for Blockstream, a company focused on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.12 He specializes in analyzing, designing, and contributing to the development of protocols for zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized consensus systems.1

Education and Background

Poelstra grew up in Cloverdale, British Columbia, and pursued his education in mathematics.1 He earned a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Simon Fraser University, where he co-authored several papers.1 He then moved to the University of Texas at Austin, completing a Master of Arts in mathematics.12

Career and Contributions

At Blockstream, Poelstra's work involves:

1. Identifying and solving mathematical problems in distributed and cryptographic systems
2. Reviewing state-of-the-art literature in fields such as number theory, cryptography, and computer security
3. Writing peer-reviewed technical publications on new algorithms and protocols
4. Supporting developers in building and optimizing implementations1

Poelstra has been involved in Bitcoin since late 2011.2 He collaborated with Blockstream co-founders Greg Maxwell and Pieter Wuille in developing libsecp256k1, a high-performance cryptography library.2 One of his major projects is Mimble Wimble, an innovative blockchain design that offers improved scalability through aggressive compaction and aggregation.2

Interests and Motivations

Andrew Poelstra's interest in mathematics and cryptography was sparked by efforts to decode ENIGMA-ciphered messages from World War II.1 He was drawn to the cypherpunk movement, which uses applied cryptography for social good.1 Poelstra sees his work in applied cryptography as an excellent use of his mathematical skillset.1

Outside of his professional work, Poelstra enjoys jazz piano, cycling, and exploring the world.2 He aspires to contribute to the development of blockchains that enable private and censorship-free transactions for people regardless of their political environment.2