4 ms·

What is the difference between computing crypto and something like Prime95 to discover new prime numbers?

dragontamer 3y ago
People using Prime95 aren't buying $Hundred-Million of electricity from the Texas Energy Grid during the snowstorm when everyone else was literally freezing and dying in their homes. The amount of electricity these miners are pulling is insane, and is beginning to affect their neighbors. Its about time we stopped putting up with it.
- izzydata 3y ago
  If there isn't enough electricity to go around it makes sense to do something about it. It seems like the issue is about electricity distribution rather than the use of the electricity. If it is the scale that is the problem then other seemingly unimportant industries using a ton of electricity in a time of crises should maybe also be limited.
  - ulrashida 3y ago
    Could you suggest a few unimportant, high energy consumption industries you had in mind? The IEA suggests the following: * Chemical manufacturers * Steelmaking * Paper mills * Refineries Industrial crypto mining is not in good company here.
    - izzydata 3y ago
      Maybe so, but I'm mainly suggesting that such a law be written a way that targets any large scale and wasteful use of electricity rather than being so specific to crypto. Even if that means crypto is the only thing currently affected. I don't like the idea of a law deciding what you can and can't compute or that some other wasteful industries get a free pass.
      - dragontamer 3y ago
        > Maybe so, but I'm mainly suggesting that such a law be written a way that targets any large scale and wasteful use of electricity rather than being so specific to crypto Cryptocoin mining is the easiest thing to get rid of that's both large scale and wasteful. If you got any other large scale wasteful uses of electricity, please let me know and we can work on getting rid of it too. > that some other wasteful industries Please start listing those "other wasteful industries".
elicash 3y ago
I'd guess they'd answer with something related to either scale of the problem, or value.
earthboundkid 3y ago
A fortune in legal fees.
paxys 3y ago
The former is relevant, the latter is not.

People using Prime95 aren't buying $Hundred-Million of electricity from the Texas Energy Grid during the snowstorm when everyone else was literally freezing and dying in their homes. The amount of electricity these miners are pulling is insane, and is beginning to affect their neighbors. Its about time we stopped putting up with it.

izzydata 3y ago
If there isn't enough electricity to go around it makes sense to do something about it. It seems like the issue is about electricity distribution rather than the use of the electricity. If it is the scale that is the problem then other seemingly unimportant industries using a ton of electricity in a time of crises should maybe also be limited.
- ulrashida 3y ago
  Could you suggest a few unimportant, high energy consumption industries you had in mind? The IEA suggests the following: * Chemical manufacturers * Steelmaking * Paper mills * Refineries Industrial crypto mining is not in good company here.
  - izzydata 3y ago
    Maybe so, but I'm mainly suggesting that such a law be written a way that targets any large scale and wasteful use of electricity rather than being so specific to crypto. Even if that means crypto is the only thing currently affected. I don't like the idea of a law deciding what you can and can't compute or that some other wasteful industries get a free pass.
    - dragontamer 3y ago
      > Maybe so, but I'm mainly suggesting that such a law be written a way that targets any large scale and wasteful use of electricity rather than being so specific to crypto Cryptocoin mining is the easiest thing to get rid of that's both large scale and wasteful. If you got any other large scale wasteful uses of electricity, please let me know and we can work on getting rid of it too. > that some other wasteful industries Please start listing those "other wasteful industries".

elicash 3y ago

I'd guess they'd answer with something related to either scale of the problem, or value.

earthboundkid 3y ago

A fortune in legal fees.

paxys 3y ago

The former is relevant, the latter is not.