The Alpha Engine is the center of HashNet’s operation. This review examines what it does, how it is constrained and what can be confirmed about it.
What it is
The Alpha Engine is HashNet’s proprietary system for automatically switching mining hardware between coins that share the same algorithm. It monitors conditions across the six coins HashNet mines and moves hardware to the most efficient coin for that moment, with no manual input.
The process
- Monitor conditions across all six coins, 24 hours a day.
- Group coins by algorithm, because hardware can only mine coins built for its algorithm.
- Evaluate the coins within each group.
- Switch hardware when a better option appears, in about 12 milliseconds (company-reported).
- Deliver output as Bitcoin, on-chain, to customer wallets.
The constraint that matters
Mining hardware is built for specific algorithms. A SHA-256 machine cannot mine an Equihash coin. The Alpha Engine therefore only switches within algorithm groups. In practice, choices exist in two groups — SHA-256 (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash) and Scrypt (Litecoin, Dogecoin) — while Equihash (Zcash) and kHeavyHash (Kaspa) each contain a single coin.
Oversight
HashNet’s engineers define the limits the engine works within, monitor its behavior through alerts and reviews, and can step in at any time. The company keeps internal records of model decisions for its team and reviewers.
What can and cannot be verified
Review summary
The Alpha Engine is realistic in design, supervised by people and honest about its limits. Its internal workings must be taken on the company’s description, but its end result — the payout — can be confirmed by anyone.