Here’s an article on creating a Bitcoin/Lightning miner from scratch using JavaScript:

Mining in Bitcoin: A Beginner’s Guide

Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized digital currency that uses a unique algorithm to secure its network through the use of complex mathematical calculations. As the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, it has become increasingly popular among developers and enthusiasts alike. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Bitcoin mining using JavaScript.

What is Mining in Bitcoin?

Mining in Bitcoin involves solving a complex mathematical puzzle that requires significant computational power to solve. This process is called “mining” because it’s like finding hidden treasure – all miners compete to solve the puzzle first and get the block reward.

The Algorithm: Proof of Work (PoW)

Bitcoin’s algorithm, also known as Proof of Work (PoW), is designed to secure the network by requiring miners to solve a complex mathematical problem. This problem is based on the difficulty level of the solution, which is calculated using a combination of hash functions and random numbers.

The general outline of Bitcoin’s PoW algorithm can be summarized as follows:

• A miner constructs a unique “hash” for a block of transactions.

• The miner broadcasts their hash to the network.

• The network solves a complex mathematical problem, which requires significant computational power.

• The miner with the fastest solution is declared the winner and gets to add their block to the blockchain.

The Workflow:

Here’s a step-by-step overview of the workflow:

• A new transaction is broadcast to the network.

• The transaction is verified by other nodes on the network using a consensus algorithm (e.g., SHA-256).

• Once verified, the transaction is grouped with other transactions into a block.

• The miner constructs a unique “hash” for the block.

• The miner broadcasts their hash to the network.

• Other nodes solve the mathematical problem to find the solution and add it to their local blockchain.

• The new block is added to the blockchain, securing the network.

The Algorithm: SHA-256

Bitcoin’s PoW algorithm uses a variant of the SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256) hash function. This algorithm is designed to be resistant to precomputed hash functions (PCHFs), which are used in many other cryptocurrencies like Litecoin (LTC).

Here’s how it works:

• A miner constructs a unique “hash” for a block by concatenating the following:

* The previous block header.

* The transaction timestamp.

* The transaction amount.

• The miner broadcasts their hash to the network.

• Other nodes compute the SHA-256 hash of each block, using the concatenated data from step 1.

• If the computed SHA-256 hash matches the expected value, it’s considered valid.

Creating a Miner with JavaScript

While Bitcoin mining is an impressive feat, we can’t directly copy its code. However, we can create a simple miner that demonstrates the concept. We’ll use WebAssembly (WASM) to run our JavaScript code on the Ethereum blockchain, which provides a similar framework for creating miners.

First, you need to set up a new Ethereum project using Remix or Truffle. Then, install the WASM-Node library:

npm install @ethers-wallets/wasmnode

Create a new contract and add some functions that mimic the Bitcoin mining workflow:

“`javascript

// miner.js

const Web3 = require(‘web3’);

const { WasmProvider } = require(‘@ethers-wallets/wasmnode’);

const provider = new Web3.providers.HttpProvider(‘

const web3 = new Web3(provider);

const BLOCK_SIZE = 32;

// Function to generate a random number

function randomNumber() {

return Math.floor(Math.