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NASA's Apollo Computer Mined Bitcoin in 2019 But Today It Would Take Forever
Computer scientist Ken Shirriff programmed an Apollo guidance computer, which once guided astronauts to the moon, to run Bitcoin mining math in 2019. A viral clip of this stunt is being circulated again by crypto media outlets this week.
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What happened
Computer scientist Ken Shirriff programmed an Apollo guidance computer, which once guided astronauts to the moon, to run Bitcoin mining math in 2019. A viral clip of this stunt is being circulated again by crypto media outlets this week.
Confirmed
Global impact / market context
The story shows how Bitcoin mining technology has advanced enormously, making old hardware useless for mining today. This matters because it highlights the intense competition and specialized equipment now required, which affects mining costs and profitability for investors.
Analyst inference
Bitcoin mining now relies on powerful, specialized machines, unlike the slow Apollo computer. This shift raises the barrier to entry, potentially concentrating mining power and influencing Bitcoin's network security and supply, which investors consider when evaluating cryptocurrency risks and rewards.
Analyst inference
What to watch
- Crypto media outlets circulated the Apollo mining story again this week, indicating ongoing public interest in Bitcoin's history and technological evolution, which could drive renewed attention to Bitcoin. Confirmed
- Investors should watch whether this viral story leads to broader discussions about Bitcoin mining's energy use and hardware demands, potentially affecting public perception and regulatory conversations around cryptocurrency. Proposed
- The comparison between 2019 Apollo mining and today's equipment suggests that older mining methods are now obsolete, implying that future mining innovations could similarly disrupt current industry leaders. Analyst inference
Affected assets
- BTC — Bitcoin