Block #500,642

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.

3.178 × 10¹⁰⁵(106-digit number)

31789863385691616066…27852134583604838401

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

3.178 × 10¹⁰⁵(106-digit number)

31789863385691616066…27852134583604838401

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^1 × origin + 1

6.357 × 10¹⁰⁵(106-digit number)

63579726771383232132…55704269167209676801

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^2 × origin + 1

1.271 × 10¹⁰⁶(107-digit number)

12715945354276646426…11408538334419353601

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^3 × origin + 1

2.543 × 10¹⁰⁶(107-digit number)

25431890708553292852…22817076668838707201

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^4 × origin + 1

5.086 × 10¹⁰⁶(107-digit number)

50863781417106585705…45634153337677414401

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^5 × origin + 1

1.017 × 10¹⁰⁷(108-digit number)

10172756283421317141…91268306675354828801

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^6 × origin + 1

2.034 × 10¹⁰⁷(108-digit number)

20345512566842634282…82536613350709657601

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^7 × origin + 1

4.069 × 10¹⁰⁷(108-digit number)

40691025133685268564…65073226701419315201

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^8 × origin + 1

8.138 × 10¹⁰⁷(108-digit number)

81382050267370537129…30146453402838630401

Verify on FactorDB ↗Wolfram Alpha ↗

×2−1 →

2^9 × origin + 1

1.627 × 10¹⁰⁸(109-digit number)

16276410053474107425…60292906805677260801

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 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

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 2CC formula:

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

Cross-reference on Chainz Explorer

Block #500,642

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