Patent attributes
A circuit and corresponding method enable bitcoin mining in a blockchain network. The circuit comprises a nonce generator that generates a nonce value, on a cycle-by-cycle basis, and changes only one binary digit of the nonce value per cycle. The circuit further comprises a hash engine that inserts, on the cycle-by-cycle basis, the nonce value into a block header of a block candidate and generates a digest by applying a hash function to the block header. The block header includes a representation of a target value. The circuit further comprises a validator that compares, on the cycle-by-cycle basis, the digest to the target value. In an event the digest satisfies the target value, the validator submits the block candidate to the blockchain network, causing newly minted bitcoin to be mined from the blockchain network. Changing only one binary digit of the nonce value, per cycle, reduces power consumption of the circuit.
