1/ I have heard this a few times in the last day.
IOTA's coordicide uses a voter model which has been extensively studied since the 70s.
P. Clifford, A. Sudbury, A model for spatial conflict. Biometrika 60 (1973), 581–588.
R.A. Holley, T.M. Liggett (1975) Ergodic theorems for weakly interacting infinite systems and the voter model. Ann. Probab.3(4),643–663.
summit.sfu.ca/item/17718
We are humbled to build on the seminal research of other groups.