Overview
How merged mining has been adapted and used to scale in Quai Network.
Mining Multiple Chains with One Computer
Imagine if you could solve three different puzzles with a single guess - that’s merged mining. Invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2010, Quai has revolutionized this concept to create the most efficient blockchain network ever built.The Innovation:
Traditional mining: One computer, one chain, limited throughput
Quai merged mining: One computer, three chains, 10,000x more efficient than Bitcoin*
Key Benefits:
Shared security: All chains protected by full network hashrate
Automatic bridges: Cross-chain transactions without intermediaries
Maximum efficiency: 10,000x better energy usage per transaction
How It Works
Simple Explanation: When a miner generates a potential solution (nonce), they check it against three different difficulty levels:
Prime chain: Hardest difficulty (like rolling three sixes)
Region chain: Medium difficulty (like rolling two sixes)
Zone chain: Easiest difficulty (like rolling one six)
The Magic:
Same computation, triple the results
No extra energy needed
All chains stay perfectly synchronized
Technical Note: All Quai chains use the ProgPoW algorithm - GPU-friendly and ASIC-resistant.
Natural Cross-Chain Bridges
What are Coincident Blocks? Sometimes a miner gets lucky and finds a solution that works for multiple chains at once - like winning multiple lottery tickets with one number.Why This Matters:
Automatic bridges: No need for complex bridging protocols
Zero trust required: Pure math ensures security
Natural occurrence: Happens automatically through mining
These coincident blocks create unbreakable links between chains, enabling seamless cross-chain transactions without any additional infrastructure.
Revolutionary Energy Efficiency
The Math is Simple:
Same energy input: One mining operation
3x more blockchains: Prime, region, and zone
10,000x more transactions: Through parallel processing
Real Impact:
Bitcoin: ~487 kWh per transaction
Quai: ~0.05 kWh per transaction
Your transaction uses less energy than boiling a kettle
Learn more about Quai’s environmental benefits.
The Bottom Line
Merged mining transforms Proof-of-Work from an energy-intensive necessity into an optimized engine for global-scale blockchain infrastructure. By mining three chains with every computation, Quai achieves unprecedented efficiency while maintaining the unmatched security guarantees of PoW.*Per transaction, assuming full load and equal mining power between networks.
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