Bitcoin is the most valuable cryptocurrency in the world and mining is one of the means by which it can be acquired. It involves the use of computers to solve complex mathematical problems, with a fixed number of bitcoins given to the mining node that arrives first at the solution. 

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Today, Bitcoin mining is a major commercial activity with Bitcoin mining complexes in countries such as China, Iceland and the United States.

Companies like Bitmain produce specific integrated circuit mining (ASIC) equipment that is a complex range of processors capable of making trillions of hashes per second. These units are quite expensive and may be out of reach of recreational Bitcoin enthusiasts. For these low budget crypt enthusiasts, following the example of Ken Shirriff could be a good way to start.

Shirriff has made a name for himself in the Bitcoin community by converting old computers and retro game hardware into mining platforms. Shirriff, who is reputed to be able to encode SHA-256 algorithms using pen and paper, has been able to create some Bitcoin mining platforms from old electronic devices.

In 2017, he converted a 1973 Xerox Alto into a mining platform using the obsolete BCPL language to encode the hash algorithm. He also reused an IBM 1401 mainframe from 1959 and a Nintendo game console from 1985 on cryptocurrency mining equipment.

What is even more laudable about the latter is that the operating system for old Nintendo video game consoles worked with 8-bit encryption, while SHA-256, Bitcoin's mining algorithm uses 32-bit encryption.

Capacities of the recycled platforms

The big question is: can these reused mining equipment compete with their commercial counterparts? Well, the answer, for now, is no. As Shirriff himself admits, his creations can only reach approximately 1.5 hashes per second, which is less than a drop in the ocean compared to the trillions of hashes that ASIC mining platforms can achieve.

For now, these reused computers are useful as a hobby for those who might be fascinated with adapting old electronics.

Shirriff's work even proves that Moore's Law is a considerable understatement, since the improvement in the complexity of computers seems to double every year.

Samsung, as part of its upcycling initiative, manufactured a Bitcoin mining from 40 old Galaxy S5 smartphones. The project was carried out by Samsung's C-Lab team, a group of engineers who manage the most creative projects in the company's product catalog.

The mining platform premiered at a 2017 developer conference in San Francisco, where other recycling devices were also shown. This practice can be a useful way to keep old devices running and reduce the pollution generated by discarded electronic components.