Bitcoin could cost us our clean-energy future

Re:Bitcoin could cost us our clean-energy future by iainmerrick on Wednesday December 06, 2017 @10:42PM (#15867455)

But how do you address the fundamental problem of an arms race between miners? They could end up burning 90% of the world's energy production madly calculating protein folds. Is that a good return on investment?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Bitcoin could cost us our clean-energy future by TYPE_FASTER on Thursday December 07, 2017 @12:33AM (#15867853)

In my opinion, it's a better return than calculating SHA hashes with no aim other than to do work.

We could prioritize computing problems by increasing the reward for working "more important" problems (find asteroids that are going to hit us?).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Bitcoin could cost us our clean-energy future by iainmerrick on Thursday December 07, 2017 @08:17AM (#15869702)

It's better but not much better. How do you avoid an arms race? Who gets to decide what problems are important?

[ Parent | on HN ]