Sharecoin (SHC)

Sharecoin is a unique fork of Bitcoin Core that replaces the traditional mining algorithm, SHA-256d, with the more GPU-friendly and ASIC-resistant ProgPoW/KawPow algorithm, similar to the one used by Ravencoin. It maintains all core functionalities such as transactions, scripting, wallets, and P2P networking in alignment with the upstream Bitcoin Core, ensuring reliable operation.

Key Features

• GPU Mining: Sharecoin allows miners to leverage their GPU power effectively, enabling a decentralized mining experience that prioritizes network security and integrity.
• Randomness Generation: Each mined ProgPoW block generates a mix_hash, a secure and unpredictable number that is computationally intensive to create, therefore providing a reliable source of randomness suitable for lotteries, NFTs, and decentralized applications. The functionality of getrandombeacon offers randomness that cannot be manipulated, eliminating the need for trust in centralized oracles.
• Decentralized Trust: Unlike many mining projects that focus solely on financial gain, Sharecoin turns mining efforts into a mechanism for generating public good by distributing trust across its network of miners.

Repository Contents

• Patched Source Code: The repository includes a modified Bitcoin Core source tree, allowing builders to compile Sharecoin from the same build procedures as Bitcoin Core, with the inclusion of the ProgPoW/KawPow algorithm.
• Wallet and Keypair Generation: A standalone Python script, generate_wallet.py, simplifies the process of creating secure wallet addresses without requiring a full node or external tools.
• Prebuilt Binaries: Users can conveniently download prebuilt packages for both Linux and Windows, enabling quick access to the Sharecoin ecosystem without the need for building from source.
• Documentation: Comprehensive detailed documentation is available to assist both developers and users with setup, mining, and usage of the software.

Getting Started with Sharecoin

For those interested in mining, it is important to note that while the Sharecoin binaries (sharecoind, sharecoin-cli) facilitate block validation and relay, an external GPU mining software such as kawpowminer is required for actual mining operations. This can be sourced from the RavenCommunity/kawpowminer GitHub Releases.

Example Mining Command

To initiate mining on the Sharecoin network, use the following command:

./kawpowminer -P stratum+tcp://YOUR_ADDRESS.worker1@sharecoin.duckdns.org:10000 --cu-grid-size 1 --cu-streams 1 --display-interval 2

This command connects to the mining pool and begins the mining process.

Sharecoin represents a forward-thinking shift in cryptocurrency mining by combining efficient mining technology with a commitment to decentralization and trust generation.