What is the Alpha Engine? HashNet’s proprietary system that automatically switches mining hardware between coins that share the same algorithm.

Who created it? HashNet, the multi-currency mining company founded by Ian Issa in 2022.

How fast does it switch? It re-points hardware in roughly 12 milliseconds, according to the company.

How many coins does it work with? Six: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Zcash and Kaspa.

How are those coins organised? Into four algorithm groups: SHA-256 (BTC, BCH), Scrypt (LTC, DOGE), Equihash (ZEC) and kHeavyHash (KAS).

Can it switch any machine to any coin? No. Hardware is built for one algorithm, so switching happens only within an algorithm group. A SHA-256 machine will never try to mine an Equihash coin.

Does the Equihash group switch? Zcash is the only coin HashNet mines on Equihash, so that group has a single coin.

Does it run all the time? Yes. It monitors conditions across all six coins 24 hours a day.

Do people control it? Engineers define the limits the Alpha Engine operates within, monitor its behaviour through alerts and reviews, and can step in at any time.

How are customers paid? Output converts to Bitcoin and is paid on-chain to customer wallets every eight hours.

Are the switching decisions recorded on a blockchain? No. HashNet says the money movement — pool inflows and payouts — is on-chain. The internal switching decisions are not.

How can its results be checked? By following a payout address on a public block explorer and confirming the Bitcoin arrives.