Block #268,438

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.

5.543 × 10⁹⁵(96-digit number)

55438674346692244336…62090994259366657599

Discovered Prime Numbers

Lower: 2^k × origin − 1 | Upper: 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.

Level 0 — Twin Prime Pair (origin ± 1)

origin − 1

5.543 × 10⁹⁵(96-digit number)

55438674346692244336…62090994259366657599

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

origin + 1

5.543 × 10⁹⁵(96-digit number)

55438674346692244336…62090994259366657601

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

Difference: origin + 1 − origin − 1 = 2 (twin primes ✓)

Level 1 — Twin Prime Pair (2^1 × origin ± 1)

2^1 × origin − 1

1.108 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

11087734869338448867…24181988518733315199

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

2^1 × origin + 1

1.108 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

11087734869338448867…24181988518733315201

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

Difference: 2^1 × origin + 1 − 2^1 × origin − 1 = 2 (twin primes ✓)

Level 2 — Twin Prime Pair (2^2 × origin ± 1)

2^2 × origin − 1

2.217 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

22175469738676897734…48363977037466630399

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

2^2 × origin + 1

2.217 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

22175469738676897734…48363977037466630401

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

Difference: 2^2 × origin + 1 − 2^2 × origin − 1 = 2 (twin primes ✓)

Level 3 — Twin Prime Pair (2^3 × origin ± 1)

2^3 × origin − 1

4.435 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

44350939477353795469…96727954074933260799

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

2^3 × origin + 1

4.435 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

44350939477353795469…96727954074933260801

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

Difference: 2^3 × origin + 1 − 2^3 × origin − 1 = 2 (twin primes ✓)

Level 4 — Twin Prime Pair (2^4 × origin ± 1)

2^4 × origin − 1

8.870 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

88701878954707590938…93455908149866521599

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

2^4 × origin + 1

8.870 × 10⁹⁶(97-digit number)

88701878954707590938…93455908149866521601

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

Difference: 2^4 × origin + 1 − 2^4 × origin − 1 = 2 (twin primes ✓)

What this block proved

The miner who found this block proved the existence of 10 consecutive prime numbers forming a Bi-Twin Chain. 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 TWN formula:

TWN: twin pairs (p, p+2) where p = origin/primorial − 1 and p+2 = origin/primorial + 1

Cross-reference on Chainz Explorer

Block #268,438

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