The complex calculations are used for something. They are used to create a peer-to-peer digital notary service that is very hard for an attacker to defeat. Th

The complex calculations are used for something. They are used to create a peer-to-peer digital notary service that is very hard for an attacker to defeat. The proof of work is essential to prevent fraud. Early in bitcoin's life the "miners" (people who contribute CPU time to keep the system secure) are paid using monetary inflation (currently 50 bitcoin per solved block). After some time they will be paid by small transaction fees instead and the inflation will stop. Do not think of bitcoin in terms of CPU time creating money.