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The (alleged) plot against Ethereum

Accusers say NVIDIA is plotting to monopolize the Ethereum network. Is there a shred of evidence? Read More...

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Ethereum developers and miners are embroiled in a bitter feud involving accusations of deceit, forgery and harassment. At the heart of the dispute is an allegation that NVIDIA, a major maker of specialized processing chips, is trying to undermine the world’s second-largest blockchain platform.” data-reactid=”19″>Ethereum developers and miners are embroiled in a bitter feud involving accusations of deceit, forgery and harassment. At the heart of the dispute is an allegation that NVIDIA, a major maker of specialized processing chips, is trying to undermine the world’s second-largest blockchain platform.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Critics say that NVIDIA has surreptitiously influenced the development of "ProgPoW," a proposed upgrade to the Ethereum network that would increase demand for cheap “GPU” mining hardware over specialized “ASICS.”” data-reactid=”20″>Critics say that NVIDIA has surreptitiously influenced the development of “ProgPoW,” a proposed upgrade to the Ethereum network that would increase demand for cheap “GPU” mining hardware over specialized “ASICS.”

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The accusers say that the ProgPoW algorithm is custom-built for NVIDIA’s own GPUS—meaning, if the upgrade passes, the hardware giant will become the go-to distributor for Ethereum miners. That in turn, say critics, would boost the company’s sales, allowing it to consolidate control over the Ethereum network.” data-reactid=”21″>The accusers say that the ProgPoW algorithm is custom-built for NVIDIA’s own GPUS—meaning, if the upgrade passes, the hardware giant will become the go-to distributor for Ethereum miners. That in turn, say critics, would boost the company’s sales, allowing it to consolidate control over the Ethereum network.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="NVIDIA declined to comment. Core Scientific, however, denies the claims fully, while ProgPoW’s architect, the 27-year-old Kristy-Leigh Minehan, dismisses the accusations as ludicrous conspiracy theory.” data-reactid=”22″>NVIDIA declined to comment. Core Scientific, however, denies the claims fully, while ProgPoW’s architect, the 27-year-old Kristy-Leigh Minehan, dismisses the accusations as ludicrous conspiracy theory.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The anti-ProgPoW camp scored an early victory on Tuesday when Minehan, responding to her critics, abruptly stepped down from her position at Core Scientific, a mining hardware company based in Bellevue, Washington. Core Scientific is alleged to have connections with NVIDIA and—perhaps worse—Calvin Ayre, the billionaire former gambling tycoon whose own vast mining operation, CoinGeek, supports Bitcoin knockoff and Ethereum competitor Bitcoin SV. Accusers believe that Ayre is quietly pulling the strings, via a series of convoluted mergers and acquisitions.” data-reactid=”23″>The anti-ProgPoW camp scored an early victory on Tuesday when Minehan, responding to her critics, abruptly stepped down from her position at Core Scientific, a mining hardware company based in Bellevue, Washington. Core Scientific is alleged to have connections with NVIDIA and—perhaps worse—Calvin Ayre, the billionaire former gambling tycoon whose own vast mining operation, CoinGeek, supports Bitcoin knockoff and Ethereum competitor Bitcoin SV. Accusers believe that Ayre is quietly pulling the strings, via a series of convoluted mergers and acquisitions.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="CoinGeek also denied the allegations.” data-reactid=”24″>CoinGeek also denied the allegations.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="But at the same time, ProgPoW has been gaining traction, and won tentative approval in an Ethereum developer meeting earlier this month. Whether or not the upgrade makes its way into Ethereum’s codebase depends on whether these "political" issues find resolution.” data-reactid=”25″>But at the same time, ProgPoW has been gaining traction, and won tentative approval in an Ethereum developer meeting earlier this month. Whether or not the upgrade makes its way into Ethereum’s codebase depends on whether these “political” issues find resolution.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Miners, shafted&nbsp;” data-reactid=”26″>Miners, shafted 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Ethereum “miners,” using expensive hardware, race to be the first to validate transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. The victor generates a new load of the cryptocurrency ether, which can be sold for cash.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”27″>Ethereum “miners,” using expensive hardware, race to be the first to validate transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. The victor generates a new load of the cryptocurrency ether, which can be sold for cash. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Originally these operations were small-time; miners revved up cheap general-processing units, or GPUs, in their rooms, generating a dribble of steady income.&nbsp; But over the past few years expensive, specialized “application-specific integrated circuit,” or ASIC, rigs have dominated Ethereum mining, which relies on an old hashing algorithm known as Ethash.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”28″>Originally these operations were small-time; miners revved up cheap general-processing units, or GPUs, in their rooms, generating a dribble of steady income.  But over the past few years expensive, specialized “application-specific integrated circuit,” or ASIC, rigs have dominated Ethereum mining, which relies on an old hashing algorithm known as Ethash. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The result is that GPU miners, who run cheaper hardware, have been squeezed out by the large corporate mining farms that can afford these ASICs. The “Ethereum Improvement Proposal” known as ProgPoW is supposed to change this and make it easier for them to earn money, as well as decentralize the network away from the largely China-based ASIC operations.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”29″>The result is that GPU miners, who run cheaper hardware, have been squeezed out by the large corporate mining farms that can afford these ASICs. The “Ethereum Improvement Proposal” known as ProgPoW is supposed to change this and make it easier for them to earn money, as well as decentralize the network away from the largely China-based ASIC operations. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="So what actual evidence is there for the collusion being alleged?&nbsp;” data-reactid=”30″>So what actual evidence is there for the collusion being alleged? 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Minehan’s detractors say that through her stewardship of ProgPow, she has been made a pawn—unwitting or otherwise—of a plot that involves Core Scientific and NVIDIA. The upgrade, they assert, would cause an increase in sales of NVIDIA-specific GPUs, at the expense of both ASICS and the GPUs of its competitor, AMD, effectively securing the company’s monopoly over the network.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”31″>Minehan’s detractors say that through her stewardship of ProgPow, she has been made a pawn—unwitting or otherwise—of a plot that involves Core Scientific and NVIDIA. The upgrade, they assert, would cause an increase in sales of NVIDIA-specific GPUs, at the expense of both ASICS and the GPUs of its competitor, AMD, effectively securing the company’s monopoly over the network. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Critics point to the fact that NVIDIA has brokered a deal with Core Scientific, to provide artificial intelligence GPUs, which they say can be adapted to mine ether. NVIDIA has also joined a Core Scientific incubator program, called “inception,” which Alexander Levin, who has done business with Minehan and is president of mining firm gpuSTASH, insists involves the sharing of ProgPoW-ready mining technology. Levin also alleges that ProgPoW’s other two creators, the pseudonymous “Def” and “Else,” are in fact developers in the pay of NVIDIA.&nbsp; Some engineers, meanwhile, claim that the ProgPoW algorithm gives an advantage to NVIDIA miners, which would undermine NVIDIA’s rival manufacturer, AMD.&nbsp;And to top it all off, a large data dump posted by Levin purports to incriminate Minehan as an NVIDIA patsy (and a CoinGeek patsy, but more on that later), though their veracity, admittedly, is impossible to establish. (In fact, Minehan asserts they were doctored to fraudulently incriminate her.)&nbsp;” data-reactid=”36″>Critics point to the fact that NVIDIA has brokered a deal with Core Scientific, to provide artificial intelligence GPUs, which they say can be adapted to mine ether. NVIDIA has also joined a Core Scientific incubator program, called “inception,” which Alexander Levin, who has done business with Minehan and is president of mining firm gpuSTASH, insists involves the sharing of ProgPoW-ready mining technology. Levin also alleges that ProgPoW’s other two creators, the pseudonymous “Def” and “Else,” are in fact developers in the pay of NVIDIA.  Some engineers, meanwhile, claim that the ProgPoW algorithm gives an advantage to NVIDIA miners, which would undermine NVIDIA’s rival manufacturer, AMD. And to top it all off, a large data dump posted by Levin purports to incriminate Minehan as an NVIDIA patsy (and a CoinGeek patsy, but more on that later), though their veracity, admittedly, is impossible to establish. (In fact, Minehan asserts they were doctored to fraudulently incriminate her.) 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="As such, it “seems likely that ProgPOW is just a Trojan horse for Core Scientific to take advantage of hardware they already have setup,” said Ameen Soleimani, the CEO of crypto adult entertainment platform Spankchain and a hardcore critic of ProgPoW. “Which means it could be even worse in terms of centralization than not doing it.”” data-reactid=”37″>As such, it “seems likely that ProgPOW is just a Trojan horse for Core Scientific to take advantage of hardware they already have setup,” said Ameen Soleimani, the CEO of crypto adult entertainment platform Spankchain and a hardcore critic of ProgPoW. “Which means it could be even worse in terms of centralization than not doing it.”

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="NVIDIA refused to discuss the matter. “We’ll decline to comment on this end,” a spokesman, Robert Sherbin, told Decrypt. Asked if that could be viewed as an admission of guilt, he said: “Declining to comment is simply that—not commenting on the matter.” Core Scientific Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Bishop, meanwhile, denied the ProgPoW-Core Scientific connection outright, professing himself unsure of what ProgPoW even was: the Ethereum algorithm change "hasn’t been a topic of discussion” among his clients, he said.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”38″>NVIDIA refused to discuss the matter. “We’ll decline to comment on this end,” a spokesman, Robert Sherbin, told Decrypt. Asked if that could be viewed as an admission of guilt, he said: “Declining to comment is simply that—not commenting on the matter.” Core Scientific Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Bishop, meanwhile, denied the ProgPoW-Core Scientific connection outright, professing himself unsure of what ProgPoW even was: the Ethereum algorithm change “hasn’t been a topic of discussion” among his clients, he said. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Minehan said that though it’s true Core Scientific and NVIDIA are involved in several deals, they are explicitly for artificial intelligence GPUs. Those devices, she says, would generate only a dribble of profit from crypto mining. She also acknowledged that Core Scientific and NVIDIA could benefit from an uptick in GPU sales caused by ProgPoW. But that’s their business—“What is wrong with companies profiting?” she said.” data-reactid=”39″>Minehan said that though it’s true Core Scientific and NVIDIA are involved in several deals, they are explicitly for artificial intelligence GPUs. Those devices, she says, would generate only a dribble of profit from crypto mining. She also acknowledged that Core Scientific and NVIDIA could benefit from an uptick in GPU sales caused by ProgPoW. But that’s their business—“What is wrong with companies profiting?” she said.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="And the allegation that Def and Else are NVIDIA Volta engineers? Nonsense, said Minehan, who claims that any evidence to the contrary was faked to smear her. Further, she said that ProgPoW does not favor NVIDIA’s chips over AMD’s: both companies audited the code.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”40″>And the allegation that Def and Else are NVIDIA Volta engineers? Nonsense, said Minehan, who claims that any evidence to the contrary was faked to smear her. Further, she said that ProgPoW does not favor NVIDIA’s chips over AMD’s: both companies audited the code. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="(AMD has not responded for comment.)” data-reactid=”41″>(AMD has not responded for comment.)

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Neither does Minehan dispute that she has a long-standing relationship with NVIDIA.&nbsp; “I have worked very closely with NVIDIA and AMD for the majority of my professional life,” she said. “Why? I’m an expert in blockchain technology, and an expert in cryptocurrency mining. NVIDIA keeps an eye very closely on the GPU market.”” data-reactid=”42″>Neither does Minehan dispute that she has a long-standing relationship with NVIDIA.  “I have worked very closely with NVIDIA and AMD for the majority of my professional life,” she said. “Why? I’m an expert in blockchain technology, and an expert in cryptocurrency mining. NVIDIA keeps an eye very closely on the GPU market.”

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="That’s Geek to me” data-reactid=”43″>That’s Geek to me

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The accusations, however, do not end there: Take, for instance, the links between Core Scientific and Calvin Ayre, highlighted by Ethereum Classic Cooperative Executive Director Bob Summerwill last week, resulting in Minehan’s disinvitation from an ETC conference.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”44″>The accusations, however, do not end there: Take, for instance, the links between Core Scientific and Calvin Ayre, highlighted by Ethereum Classic Cooperative Executive Director Bob Summerwill last week, resulting in Minehan’s disinvitation from an ETC conference. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The evidence? Both Core Scientific CEO Kevin Turner and Calvin Ayre beneficiary Craig Wright hold advisory positions at the same company: Squire mining, a former precious metals mining company that pivoted to cryptocurrency mining after a reverse-merger into Ayre’s CoinGeek in March 2019 that involved a $22.5 million share purchase. A few months later, Squire inked a binding letter of intent with Core Scientific, to host 41,166 Bitcoin SV compatible ASIC devices.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”45″>The evidence? Both Core Scientific CEO Kevin Turner and Calvin Ayre beneficiary Craig Wright hold advisory positions at the same company: Squire mining, a former precious metals mining company that pivoted to cryptocurrency mining after a reverse-merger into Ayre’s CoinGeek in March 2019 that involved a $22.5 million share purchase. A few months later, Squire inked a binding letter of intent with Core Scientific, to host 41,166 Bitcoin SV compatible ASIC devices. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Was the invisible hand of Calvin Ayre pulling the strings, attempting to bring the ProgPoW operation under CoinGeek’s purview?&nbsp;” data-reactid=”46″>Was the invisible hand of Calvin Ayre pulling the strings, attempting to bring the ProgPoW operation under CoinGeek’s purview? 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Summerwill, who has complained publicly about Core Scientific’s Ayre links, believes CoinGeek, a large miner of the cryptocurrency BSV, is set to be NVIDIA’s primary purchaser once ProgPoW comes through and eliminates the ASICS. He also asserts, as evidence, Minehan’s many informal connections with CoinGeek and its associated cryptocurrency, BSV.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”47″>Summerwill, who has complained publicly about Core Scientific’s Ayre links, believes CoinGeek, a large miner of the cryptocurrency BSV, is set to be NVIDIA’s primary purchaser once ProgPoW comes through and eliminates the ASICS. He also asserts, as evidence, Minehan’s many informal connections with CoinGeek and its associated cryptocurrency, BSV. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="CoinGeek denies this outright. “I can say with some authority that this is conspiracy theory nonsense,” said Ed Pownall, a spokesperson. Minehan also denies it, saying CoinGeek’s deal concerns only Bitcoin miners; hardly ideal for a takeover of the Ethereum network. You could fiddle with CoinGeek’s ASICs to make them run on ProgPoW, she ventured. But, “it would never make you any money.” Minehan also forwarded a private message from BSV backer and self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor Craig Wright, in which Wright described ProgPoW as “dumb as fuck.”” data-reactid=”48″>CoinGeek denies this outright. “I can say with some authority that this is conspiracy theory nonsense,” said Ed Pownall, a spokesperson. Minehan also denies it, saying CoinGeek’s deal concerns only Bitcoin miners; hardly ideal for a takeover of the Ethereum network. You could fiddle with CoinGeek’s ASICs to make them run on ProgPoW, she ventured. But, “it would never make you any money.” Minehan also forwarded a private message from BSV backer and self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor Craig Wright, in which Wright described ProgPoW as “dumb as fuck.”

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Wright did not respond for comment.” data-reactid=”49″>Wright did not respond for comment.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Minehan’s critics also look askance on her work history. Levin, of GPU provider gpuShack, points out that Minehan used to run a curious, now-defunct conglomerate of mining firms called Mineority, until she left to join Core Scientific in August, 2018. Levin and others claim that Mineority was a costly failure: promised payments never came through, customer support tickets grew into an unmanageable backlog, and business roadmaps became cul de sacs, according to him and several people who spoke to us.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”50″>Minehan’s critics also look askance on her work history. Levin, of GPU provider gpuShack, points out that Minehan used to run a curious, now-defunct conglomerate of mining firms called Mineority, until she left to join Core Scientific in August, 2018. Levin and others claim that Mineority was a costly failure: promised payments never came through, customer support tickets grew into an unmanageable backlog, and business roadmaps became cul de sacs, according to him and several people who spoke to us. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Minehan says the accusations are false: “We had no legal employees,” she said. “You have all these people saying they worked for Mineority, or were proper legal employees, but won’t be able to show any employment. They refused to be employees. A lot of the individuals never wanted to sign a contract.”&nbsp;” data-reactid=”51″>Minehan says the accusations are false: “We had no legal employees,” she said. “You have all these people saying they worked for Mineority, or were proper legal employees, but won’t be able to show any employment. They refused to be employees. A lot of the individuals never wanted to sign a contract.” 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Now, as tensions flare, ProgPoW’s fate grows uncertain. Though two audits of the code have nulled some basic technical concerns, Ethereum Foundation rep Tim Beiko notes that while it is has been "accepted” by the community, additional concerns around the ‘political’ aspect imperil it.&nbsp;” data-reactid=”52″>Now, as tensions flare, ProgPoW’s fate grows uncertain. Though two audits of the code have nulled some basic technical concerns, Ethereum Foundation rep Tim Beiko notes that while it is has been “accepted” by the community, additional concerns around the ‘political’ aspect imperil it. 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Online pundits have rushed to the same conclusion. Nick Johnson, the lead developer on Ethereum fork go-Ethereum, wrote on Twitter Thursday: “At this point I think ProgPoW has no chance of going through, not because it’s a bad idea, but because people have successfully sown enough Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt that the objective arguments for and against it have become irrelevant.”” data-reactid=”53″>Online pundits have rushed to the same conclusion. Nick Johnson, the lead developer on Ethereum fork go-Ethereum, wrote on Twitter Thursday: “At this point I think ProgPoW has no chance of going through, not because it’s a bad idea, but because people have successfully sown enough Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt that the objective arguments for and against it have become irrelevant.”

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Meanwhile Minehan’s departure from Core Scientific, although reassuring some, has left others even more suspicious: Why quit your job for an EIP, one person asked in the comments beneath Minehan’s departing announcement. Indeed, what does Minehan stand to gain from leaving a high-flying C-suite job to pursue a “tentatively approved proposal”?&nbsp;” data-reactid=”54″>Meanwhile Minehan’s departure from Core Scientific, although reassuring some, has left others even more suspicious: Why quit your job for an EIP, one person asked in the comments beneath Minehan’s departing announcement. Indeed, what does Minehan stand to gain from leaving a high-flying C-suite job to pursue a “tentatively approved proposal”? 

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Minehan says she left because “Internet mobs” were harming Core Scientific’s business. “It’s very easy to spin up the Internet, and attack people who have no idea what ProgPoW is,” she said. And while Core Scientific does stand to benefit from ProgPoW, Minehan believes that her perceived conflict of interest is now neutralized. “There’s no benefit for me personally,” she said. Although she does have some equity in Core Scientific, and she does run a handful of personal ASICs and GPUs, she said. ” data-reactid=”55″>Minehan says she left because “Internet mobs” were harming Core Scientific’s business. “It’s very easy to spin up the Internet, and attack people who have no idea what ProgPoW is,” she said. And while Core Scientific does stand to benefit from ProgPoW, Minehan believes that her perceived conflict of interest is now neutralized. “There’s no benefit for me personally,” she said. Although she does have some equity in Core Scientific, and she does run a handful of personal ASICs and GPUs, she said.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="But perhaps Ethereum inventor Vitalik Buterin put it best: "I think the main harm of ProgPoW is that it just wastes people's mental energy on something that ultimately is not a big deal because we are switching to Proof of Stake," he told Decrypt. Proof of stake, of course, is an entirely new algorithm that doesn’t involve miners, mining hardware, or NVIDIA.” data-reactid=”56″>But perhaps Ethereum inventor Vitalik Buterin put it best: “I think the main harm of ProgPoW is that it just wastes people’s mental energy on something that ultimately is not a big deal because we are switching to Proof of Stake,” he told Decrypt. Proof of stake, of course, is an entirely new algorithm that doesn’t involve miners, mining hardware, or NVIDIA.

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