Before founding HashNet, Ian Issa believed that mining more coins simply meant more chaos. He has since listed it as one of five myths he had to unlearn. The answer, he found, was structure.
The myth
The intuition is understandable. Six coins mean six sets of network conditions, multiple kinds of hardware and many possible decisions. Without organisation, that could become unmanageable.
The structure
HashNet organises everything around algorithms. Its six coins fall into just four algorithm groups:
| Group | Coins |
|---|---|
| SHA-256 | Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash |
| Scrypt | Litecoin, Dogecoin |
| Equihash | Zcash |
| kHeavyHash | Kaspa |
Machines only switch within their own group. That turns a large, open-ended problem into a set of small, clear choices.
The four structural rules
- Each algorithm group has its own dedicated hardware.
- Coins are only compared with others in the same group.
- The Alpha Engine handles switching decisions in real time.
- Payouts settle on-chain, where customers can verify them.
Why structure enables speed
Because each decision is confined to a few coins the hardware can actually mine, the Alpha Engine can act quickly — in about 12 milliseconds, according to the company — and reliably.
Why structure enables oversight
A structured system is also easier for people to supervise. HashNet’s engineers set the limits the engine works within, monitor it through alerts and reviews, and can intervene at any time.
Summary
At HashNet, six coins do not mean chaos. Four algorithm groups, dedicated hardware and clear switching rules turn complexity into something both automated and controllable.
