Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

qz.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 188 posts

Re: Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

#61

Post by ArchReaper »

uwu wrote: post #37
ArchReaper wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>it would be cool if Bitcoin didn't require throwaway computation Sure, but that's a technology that does not exist. If you can figure out how to create a blockchain-like concept, where the 'proof of work' actually contributes to humanity, you have invented the next big thing. Edit: Reading the comments below me, it looks like this is a space that is being actively explored. Exciting!

https://curecoin.net

From their site:

>Curecoin puts ASICs to work at what they are good at–securing a blockchain, while it puts GPUs and CPUs to work with work items that can only be done on them–protein folding.

Do you (or anyone) have more information in how this works? Does this reward you directly for doing the folding (as opposed to validating)? How does that work? That looks like a very interesting concept, and if it's technologically sound then I'd love to see it gain popularity.

Re: Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

#62

Post by GrinningFool »

clarkmoody wrote: post #58
acjohnson55 wrote: post #11

Of course, it would be cool if Bitcoin didn't require throwaway computation. Then we could use this computation for something that's actually valuable, like protein folding, or something, and still make use of the waste heat.

> Then we could use this computation for something that's actually valuable So Bitcoin is not valuable?

Perhaps "meaningful" would be a better fit.

Re: Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

#63

Post by jsmthrowaway »

evgenyq wrote: post #56
jsmthrowaway wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For comparison, PG&E E1 baseline for California is currently $0.19979/kWh. As in, 12x more. God help you if you wander from baseline. https://www.pge.com/tariffs/tm2/pdf/ELEC_SCHEDS_E-1.pdf Even using a time-of-use plan like E6 (which they don't allow any more), off-peak is $0.16728/kWh in the summer, and peak summer is $0.35933/kWh. The ETOU-A and ETOU-B plans they're pushing people toward bottom out at $0.17279/kWh…

Oh, you have all that med insurance shit for those smarties who can handle electricity rate plans.

CARE doesn't help as much as you'd think, but yes.

Re: Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

#65

Post by ojr »

gruez wrote: post #45
RealityVoid wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not. It still uses proof of work, for now at least. They say they want to implement proof of stake. THAT will be interesting, but I want to see if they ever get there.

>They say they want to implement proof of stake. THAT will be interesting what's so interesting about that? there are plenty of proof of stake coins already.

20 billion dollar more in market cap makes it a little bit more interesting than other coins that dont have that market cap, there's more at stake

Re: Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

#69

Post by eternalban »

pfraze wrote: post #57
ArchReaper wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>it would be cool if Bitcoin didn't require throwaway computation Sure, but that's a technology that does not exist. If you can figure out how to create a blockchain-like concept, where the 'proof of work' actually contributes to humanity, you have invented the next big thing. Edit: Reading the comments below me, it looks like this is a space that is being actively explored. Exciting!

You can have blockchains without decentralized consensus. It's how Certificate Transparency works. You have the contract host record all operations and output on a ledger, and then ship that ledger/log out to monitors. This improves the auditability of the system, and enforces the backend logic as a contract. Deviations from the code are detectable by replay, and then provable. Flag the host and readjust your trust.…

> You can have blockchains without decentralized consensus.

That's pretty much something like Git.

Re: Bitcoin mining heats homes for free in Siberia [video]

#70

Post by eternalban »

PKop wrote: post #27
virtuexru wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That "throwaway" computation ensures the integrity & correctness of the blockchain, all while confirming new transactions.

Funny you're getting down-voted. This is quite literally a true statement. Then the only point of contention is whether the benefit of this secure network existing and what it gives the world outweighs the cost of the resources consumed. I believe it is, by a large amount.

It's not "Funny". This forum's intellectual integrity is declining. OP, of course, made a statement of fact.
Post reply on HN