Optimal mining in proof-of-work blockchain protocols

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Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2023-05

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Mcode

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Language

en

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Series

Finance Research Letters, Volume 53

Abstract

This paper examines the economic mechanism of cryptocurrency mining. By presenting a profit function, a maximization equilibrium is obtained. The model provides a formal approach to the demand for hashing power as a function of revenues, mining costs and the number of miners. We consider how the equilibrium is affected by passive miners. We use these results to introduce a formulation of the price elasticity of the demand for hashing power with respect to the cost of energy. The model is simulated using Reinforcement Learning algorithms that arrive to similar equilibrium results. The article concludes with implications of the model for policymaking.

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Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)

Keywords

Cryptocurrencies, Elasticity, Hashrate, Machine learning, Mining, Proof-of-work

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Citation

Soria, J, Moya, J & Mohazab, A 2023, ' Optimal mining in proof-of-work blockchain protocols ', Finance Research Letters, vol. 53, 103610 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2022.103610