Block #242,959

This is the prime chain origin stored in the block header. It is a composite number (not prime itself) — it equals the first prime in the chain multiplied by a primorial. The origin anchors the entire chain to this specific block.

1.881 × 10⁹⁷(98-digit number)

18819531450180561472…15239387847673701099

Discovered Prime Numbers

p_k = 2^k × origin − 1

These are the actual prime numbers discovered by this block, computed using the verified Primecoin formula. Each number has been independently confirmed to pass the Fermat primality test. Use the FactorDB links to verify any number independently.

origin − 1

1.881 × 10⁹⁷(98-digit number)

18819531450180561472…15239387847673701099

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^1 × origin − 1

3.763 × 10⁹⁷(98-digit number)

37639062900361122945…30478775695347402199

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^2 × origin − 1

7.527 × 10⁹⁷(98-digit number)

75278125800722245890…60957551390694804399

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^3 × origin − 1

1.505 × 10⁹⁸(99-digit number)

15055625160144449178…21915102781389608799

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^4 × origin − 1

3.011 × 10⁹⁸(99-digit number)

30111250320288898356…43830205562779217599

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^5 × origin − 1

6.022 × 10⁹⁸(99-digit number)

60222500640577796712…87660411125558435199

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^6 × origin − 1

1.204 × 10⁹⁹(100-digit number)

12044500128115559342…75320822251116870399

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^7 × origin − 1

2.408 × 10⁹⁹(100-digit number)

24089000256231118685…50641644502233740799

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^8 × origin − 1

4.817 × 10⁹⁹(100-digit number)

48178000512462237370…01283289004467481599

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2+1 →

2^9 × origin − 1

9.635 × 10⁹⁹(100-digit number)

96356001024924474740…02566578008934963199

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

What this block proved

The miner who found this block proved the existence of 10 consecutive prime numbers forming a Cunningham Chain of the First Kind. The prime chain origin — the large number shown above — anchors the chain and is divisible by a primorial (the product of small primes), cryptographically tying these prime numbers to this specific block.

★★☆☆☆

Rarity

UncommonChain length 10

Roughly 1 in 100 blocks. Solid but expected in a healthy network.

How Primecoin's Proof-of-Work Constructs These Primes

Primecoin stores a value called the prime chain origin in each block. The miner found a large integer such that when divided by a primorial (the product of small primes: 2 × 3 × 5 × 7 × …), the result is the first prime in the chain. The origin is deliberately divisible by this primorial — that divisibility is part of the proof.

Prime Chain Origin = First Prime × Primorial (2·3·5·7·11·…)

Source: Primecoin prime.cpp — CheckPrimeProofOfWork()

This is why the origin has many small prime factors — those factors are the primorial divisor. The chain then extends from the first prime using the 1CC formula:

1CC: p₁ (first prime), p₂ = 2p₁ + 1, p₃ = 2p₂ + 1, …

Cross-reference on Chainz Explorer

Block #242,959

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