News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by zepto on Friday April 16, 2021 @12:33AM (#26829492)
Have you considered that they wouldn’t be trying to turn electricity into money and might be making money some other way?
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by tshaddox on Friday April 16, 2021 @02:46AM (#26830433)
Making money without using electricity? I suppose that’s not impossible, but it sounds unlikely at any appreciable scale.
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by zepto on Friday April 16, 2021 @11:12AM (#26834867)
Turning electricity into money is different from using some electricity while you make money.
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by tshaddox on Friday April 16, 2021 @12:35PM (#26836027)
I fail to see the distinction. Bitcoin mining, just like farming, traditional mining, etc. doesn’t literally have electricity as its only input.
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by zepto on Friday April 16, 2021 @02:13PM (#26837281)
> I fail to see the distinction. Bitcoin mining, just like farming, traditional mining, etc. doesn’t literally have electricity as its only input.

If your are referring to the wasted hardware, then sure, but once the equipment is in place, Bitcoin mining itself does in fact have electricity as the only input.

Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by SwimSwimHungry on Friday April 16, 2021 @12:36AM (#26829512)
And to your point, likely a way that doesn't have global implications? Even other bubbles of the past didn't have quite the reach that the likes of Bitcoin has (maybe with the exception of the entire stock market in the Roaring 20s leading right up to the crash of 1929). That's why this time, this is much more dangerous in the long run.
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by spiorf on Friday April 16, 2021 @01:52AM (#26830031)
What about the hypotesis that a global shared ledger under no-one's control with thermodynamical guarantee of immutability actually has some value?
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by kortilla on Friday April 16, 2021 @02:01AM (#26830077)
There is no thermodynamic guarantee in Bitcoin.
Re:Bitcoin miners are buying power plants by SwimSwimHungry on Friday April 16, 2021 @02:38AM (#26830374)
Last I checked too, Bitcoin is not quantum safe either.