Merged Folding

Merged Folding
Written by the FoldingCoin Inc Team
On February 5th, 2015 FoldingCoin Inc. is introducing Merged Folding to our platform. This allows other cryptocurrency projects to partner with FoldingCoin, sharing our distribution platform in combination with the LTB asset distributor. These projects can distribute based on the Folding@home(FAH) folding work performed by their members. Please go tofor complete details if you are not familiar withFoldingCoin (FLDC. XCP).
So why should a token or Altcoin distribute their tokens on the FoldingCoin platform rather then have their own blockchain?
To answer this, lets get an understanding of how grid computing is measured
There are two common forms of computational measurements that are used in grid computing:
Hash – A hash function is any function that can be used to map digital data of arbitrary size to digital data of fixed size, with slight differences in input data producing very big differences in output data. This is what most blockchains use in the crypto world. ASIC Miners perform hashes at an astronomical rate. FLOPS – In computing, FLOPS (FLoating-point Operations Per Second) is a measure of computer performance, useful in fields of scientific calculations that make heavy use of floating-point calculations. This is what is used in grid computing platforms such as Folding@home or SETI@home. There are currently no economical ASICs for FLOPS for scientific and medical grid computing. CPUs and GPUs are still the preferred and most affordable method. There is no direct translation from one to another, but a common consensus, for the sake of comparison, is that 1 hash is equivalent to 12,700 FLOPS. The FAH grid computing network has 46 PetaFLOPS and is known as the world’s most powerful computing network outside of the Bitcoin mining network.
So how much computational power was put into early bitcoin mining with PCs?
At the time before ASICs and FPGAs started hitting the market in December 2012, the Hash rate of the Bitcoin network was at 26 terahashes from mostly GPU and CPU power. Based on a rough comparison (12.7 petaflops = 1 terahash) the computational power in legacy mining equipment is:
26 terahash * 12.7 petaflops = 330 petaflops
Imagine if that power was harnessed for molecular protein folding. Most of this power was redirected to altcoin mining after the SHA ASICs came out, since there was no profit motive for folding. FoldingCoin looks to bring a profit motive for people to fold proteins by distributing FLDC along with other Counterparty tokens.

This post was published at Lets Talk Bitcoin on February 5th, 2015.