<p>To expand on @Jannes’ answer:</p>

<p>‘ASIC resistance’ is not technically possible in the absolute sense. No matter the algorithm, it is theoretically possible to create some hardware that can run the algorithm more efficiently than a general purpose device (such as a GPU). What ASIC resistance does accomplish is making situations in which creating a more efficient device is <strong>much more difficult</strong>, and perhaps only possible by a select few skilled and connected individuals and manufacturers. </p>

<p>So with this in mind, ‘ASIC resistance’ actually leads to outcomes of more intense centralization since a smaller group of individuals will have access to create/run the specialized hardware. Generally this is counter to the original intent of making an ‘ASIC resistant’ algorithm in the first place. </p>

<p>I have not seen any claims of ‘pool resistance’,  but I suspect the same principle will apply: Making it harder to create/join a pool will only give the technically capable a larger advantage at the end of the day, because an absolute ban on pools does not seem technically possible.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-15T12:24:19.330Z
Thanks for the better answer. And to expand even a bit further: the only way to get some sort of real asic resistance is by having humans change the algorithm, which puts those corruptible/bribe-able/blackmail-able humans squarely in control, i.e. another form of centralization.
Jannes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T12:09:10.120Z
An algorithm can be designed that makes creating an ASIC a lot more expensive. If the cost of an ASIC is exceptionally high it could actually deter them and help decentralization.
blues
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T17:38:07.617Z
@blues reread my answer, high cost of development is a centralizing force, you have it backwards. If a system becomes valuable enough (which is the goal, to create value) then we should expect someone to create an ASIC. The easier it is to create an ASIC, the more decentralized the mining power can be.
chytrik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T20:56:08.880Z
Only up to some threshold. The cost can be prohibitively high: if asics aren't really profitable they are not going to be used, which in turn helps decentralization. I'm also not talking about hight cost of development, I do mean high cost of manufacturing. (High compared to the gain derived from using them.)
blues
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-13T21:19:41.127Z
@blues practically, such an upper limit does not seem to exist for any algorithm used by a coin that becomes worth anything at all. 'ASIC resistance' is pretty much a scam sold to uninformed users. **Having a high cost of manufacturing/development means a smaller number of people will be able to create the ASICs, and this is the very definition of 'centralization'**. For a good overview of ASIC manufacturing in this regard, see this article: https://blog.sia.tech/the-state-of-cryptocurrency-mining-538004a37f9b
chytrik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T20:43:10.923Z
2019-04-14T21:08:57.127Z
2019-04-14T21:08:57.127Z
chytrik
<p>I found multy-pool resistance:
<a href="https://github.com/goldcoin/wiki/wiki/GoldCoin-Whitepaper#multi-pool-resistant" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://github.com/goldcoin/wiki/wiki/GoldCoin-Whitepaper#multi-pool-resistant</a></p>

<p>And for asic-resistance see <a href="https://whitepapersindex.com/?q=%22asic-resistance%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://whitepapersindex.com/?q=%22asic-resistance%22</a>
there are ~100 whitepapers found.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T15:27:53.307Z
2019-05-09T15:27:53.307Z
nanvel
<p>ASIC resistance is a buzzword thrown around by scammers trying to sell you what is actually impossible as well as a bad thing. Pool resistance doesn't sound much better.</p>

<p><a href="https://download.wpsoftware.net/bitcoin/asic-faq.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://download.wpsoftware.net/bitcoin/asic-faq.pdf</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T13:52:51.133Z
2019-04-14T21:12:14.613Z
2019-04-14T21:12:14.613Z
Jannes
<p>I have seen several cryptocurrencies list the feature of decentralization of mining through <code>ASIC-resistance</code> and <code>pool-resistance</code>. However, I have not yet found any whitepapers which explain how the <code>pool-resistance</code> feature is implemented and what are the proofs that such feature actually accomplishes its stated purpose. I want to learn more about <code>ASIC-resistance</code> and <code>pool-resistance</code> by reading some indepth white papers.</p>

<decentralization><asic-resistance>
Looking for whitepapers on pool-resistence mining
MountainX
# Looking for whitepapers on pool-resistence mining

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-14)

I have seen several cryptocurrencies list the feature of decentralization of mining through `ASIC-resistance` and `pool-resistance`. However, I have not yet found any whitepapers which explain how the `pool-resistance` feature is implemented and what are the proofs that such feature actually accomplishes its stated purpose. I want to learn more about `ASIC-resistance` and `pool-resistance` by reading some indepth white papers.

**Tags:** decentralization, asic-resistance


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-04-14. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

ASIC resistance is a buzzword thrown around by scammers trying to sell you what is actually impossible as well as a bad thing. Pool resistance doesn't sound much better.

<https://download.wpsoftware.net/bitcoin/asic-faq.pdf>


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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-04-14. Score: 5

To expand on @username_2’ answer:

‘ASIC resistance’ is not technically possible in the absolute sense. No matter the algorithm, it is theoretically possible to create some hardware that can run the algorithm more efficiently than a general purpose device (such as a GPU). What ASIC resistance does accomplish is making situations in which creating a more efficient device is **much more difficult**, and perhaps only possible by a select few skilled and connected individuals and manufacturers.

So with this in mind, ‘ASIC resistance’ actually leads to outcomes of more intense centralization since a smaller group of individuals will have access to create/run the specialized hardware. Generally this is counter to the original intent of making an ‘ASIC resistant’ algorithm in the first place.

I have not seen any claims of ‘pool resistance’, but I suspect the same principle will apply: Making it harder to create/join a pool will only give the technically capable a larger advantage at the end of the day, because an absolute ban on pools does not seem technically possible.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Thanks for the better answer. And to expand even a bit further: the only way to get some sort of real asic resistance is by having humans change the algorithm, which puts those corruptible/bribe-able/blackmail-able humans squarely in control, i.e. another form of centralization.  
> **username_3**: An algorithm can be designed that makes creating an ASIC a lot more expensive. If the cost of an ASIC is exceptionally high it could actually deter them and help decentralization.  
> **username_1**: @username_3 reread my answer, high cost of development is a centralizing force, you have it backwards. If a system becomes valuable enough (which is the goal, to create value) then we should expect someone to create an ASIC. The easier it is to create an ASIC, the more decentralized the mining power can be.  
> **username_3**: Only up to some threshold. The cost can be prohibitively high: if asics aren't really profitable they are not going to be used, which in turn helps decentralization. I'm also not talking about hight cost of development, I do mean high cost of manufacturing. (High compared to the gain derived from using them.)  
> **username_1**: @username_3 practically, such an upper limit does not seem to exist for any algorithm used by a coin that becomes worth anything at all. 'ASIC resistance' is pretty much a scam sold to uninformed users. **Having a high cost of manufacturing/development means a smaller number of people will be able to create the ASICs, and this is the very definition of 'centralization'**. For a good overview of ASIC manufacturing in this regard, see this article: https://blog.sia.tech/the-state-of-cryptocurrency-mining-538004a37f9b  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-05-09. Score: 1

I found multy-pool resistance:
<https://github.com/goldcoin/wiki/wiki/GoldCoin-Whitepaper#multi-pool-resistant>

And for asic-resistance see <https://whitepapersindex.com/?q=%22asic-resistance%22>
there are ~100 whitepapers found.


---

