Block #272,838

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.

2.834 × 10¹⁰²(103-digit number)

28342662754215775726…23117376690984605651

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

2.834 × 10¹⁰²(103-digit number)

28342662754215775726…23117376690984605651

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^1 × origin + 1

5.668 × 10¹⁰²(103-digit number)

56685325508431551452…46234753381969211301

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^2 × origin + 1

1.133 × 10¹⁰³(104-digit number)

11337065101686310290…92469506763938422601

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^3 × origin + 1

2.267 × 10¹⁰³(104-digit number)

22674130203372620580…84939013527876845201

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^4 × origin + 1

4.534 × 10¹⁰³(104-digit number)

45348260406745241161…69878027055753690401

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^5 × origin + 1

9.069 × 10¹⁰³(104-digit number)

90696520813490482323…39756054111507380801

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^6 × origin + 1

1.813 × 10¹⁰⁴(105-digit number)

18139304162698096464…79512108223014761601

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^7 × origin + 1

3.627 × 10¹⁰⁴(105-digit number)

36278608325396192929…59024216446029523201

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^8 × origin + 1

7.255 × 10¹⁰⁴(105-digit number)

72557216650792385858…18048432892059046401

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

What this block proved

The miner who found this block proved the existence of 9 consecutive prime numbers forming a Cunningham Chain of the Second 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

CommonChain length 9

Found in most blocks. The baseline for Primecoin's proof-of-work.

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 2CC formula:

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

Cross-reference on Chainz Explorer

Block #272,838

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