This is a question that has been on my mind for some time now. Physically, technically, and with maintenance in mind, it is easy to find major differences. But we are already seeing mining operations starting to host HPC hardware. It is a signal to me that these technologies are on a path that lead straight to the other.

I see 3 outcomes.

First, they do not help each other. Energy generation in the US does not meet the requirement from both Bitcoin and HPC. These technologies want their data centers where the energy is cheap. Even more preferable is land where you are actually doing the grid, and its operators, a service, because now the energy is really cheap. This means the price of the product they create gets more expensive for their customers. The battle for land gets so toxic that politicians get involved, filling both industries with propaganda so that neither technology reaches it's full potential.

Second, they just work together. The grid expands as needed. Energy prices for citizens around the data centers begin to fall. Companies are respectful about the noise they create. They serve a different need, so one doesn't bother the other. Self-driving cars are everywhere, banks have their own digital currency, and Bitcoin is the hard asset of choice. Boring.

Third, they help each other. They fund energy generation projects that benefit themselves and the other. Chip technology advances at 10x the rate of Moore's Law. HPC uses Bitcoin and Bitcoin uses HPC. Cyber security breakthroughs that guarantee freedom of information. Individuals and their families are able to save their wealth and lower time preference as many tasks are automated. We step into the digital age more prepared.

It is a pretty long timeline into each scenario, so the chances I am 100% correct on any one is close to 0. But the chances that Bitcoin and HPC have an impact on the other is very high in my opinion. I hope they can help each other, but I am starting to believe that, if not for the US government, "Artificial Intelligence", and it's vast marketing campaign would not exist. We would just be calling it "High-Performance Computing", and all these cool and hip catchphrases like "thinking" and "hallucinations" would be called "calculating" and "buggy" like we always have.

I think they will help each other. Bitcoin is open-sourced, and there are many open-sourced AI products. Open-sourcing always wins. It always becomes the best option for people who actually use the product regularly. I think people will end up using Bitcoin and HPC regularly, so it will make everyone's life easier if they work well together.

What are your thoughts?