<p>Its not a math problem. Its just search for partial collision in function called sha256.</p>

<p>Sha256 is a famous type of puzzle.</p>

<p>During the writing of this post, a block  397108 was mined.</p>

<p>The solution looks like this:
00000000000000000497b28e9c38673ef8fd2fed317d6eca8a579350b1cba0a6</p>

<p>Notice the zeroes on the beginning. The more zeroes the harder is to find a solution.</p>

<p>The only reason is to waste power to prevent creation of funds from thin air (prevent print too much money) and to confirm payments.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-08T05:38:41.423Z
Actually the problem is not finding a collision. The correct terminology is a [preimage attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preimage_attack), where you are given a target hash value (000...000) and want to find an input that hashes to it.
Nayuki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-06T22:29:12.007Z
2016-02-06T22:29:12.007Z
Anlhord Smithson
<p>After reading many articles, I didn't find an answer to the following. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Miners use special software to solve math problems" </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Okay, but for whom? Are there organizations or people that need those math problems to be solved?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-07T11:44:10.803Z
Everyone who uses Bitcoins needs those math problems solved because it's the solution of those problems that secures the blockchain against double spend attacks.
David Schwartz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-08T09:15:47.887Z
related: [Is there a way to set up proof-of-work systems so they would be even more useful?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/331/5406)
Murch
<mining-theory>
Who benefits from mining?
Akam
# Who benefits from mining?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-06)

After reading many articles, I didn't find an answer to the following.

> "Miners use special software to solve math problems"

Okay, but for whom? Are there organizations or people that need those math problems to be solved?

**Tags:** mining-theory

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Everyone who uses Bitcoins needs those math problems solved because it's the solution of those problems that secures the blockchain against double spend attacks.  
> **username_2**: related: [Is there a way to set up proof-of-work systems so they would be even more useful?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/331/5406)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-02-06. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Its not a math problem. Its just search for partial collision in function called sha256.

Sha256 is a famous type of puzzle.

During the writing of this post, a block 397108 was mined.

The solution looks like this:
00000000000000000497b28e9c38673ef8fd2fed317d6eca8a579350b1cba0a6

Notice the zeroes on the beginning. The more zeroes the harder is to find a solution.

The only reason is to waste power to prevent creation of funds from thin air (prevent print too much money) and to confirm payments.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Actually the problem is not finding a collision. The correct terminology is a [preimage attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preimage_attack), where you are given a target hash value (000...000) and want to find an input that hashes to it.  

---

