20 lines
858 B
Markdown
20 lines
858 B
Markdown
## The LBRY Proof of Work (POW) Algorithm
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LBRY uses [proof of work](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Proof_of_work) the same way that Bitcoin does. The
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only difference is the hash function. LBRY uses a slightly different algorithm that achieves the same ends but slightly delayed the development of a GPU miner and gave early adopters a chance to mine without specialized hardware.
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LBRY's algorithm is
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```python
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intermediate = sha512(sha256(sha256(data))) # compute the sha512() of the double-sha256() of the data
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left = ripemd(intermediate[:len(intermediate)/2]) # separately ripemd160 the left half
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right = ripemd(intermediate[len(intermediate)/2:]) # and the right half
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proof = sha256(sha256(left + right)) # concatenate the two halves, and double-sha256() it again
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```
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For comparison, Bitcoin's algorithm is
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```python
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proof = sha256(sha256(data))
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```
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