Bitcoin Mining Inside Minecraft: A Redstone Implementation of the SHA-256 Cryptographic Hash Algorithm

This paper provides a comprehensive technical analysis of a fully functional Bitcoin miner implemented entirely within the sandbox video game Minecraft, using only its native mechanics — without cheats, mods, or command-block shortcuts. The project, developed over two years by creators Armadillo28 and Soundtomb and presented in December 2024, realizes a complete hardware-level execution of the SHA-256 double-hash required by the Bitcoin proof-of-work protocol. We examine the architecture of the Redstone circuits, including zero-tick (instantaneous) logic gates, a 512-bit shift register, a 256-bit target RAM, bubble-column carry propagators, and bitwise rotation units. We also describe the Python-based middleware layer that bridges the Minecraft game environment with the live Bitcoin network. Performance metrics are quantified and contextualized against modern application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mining hardware. The result is a hash rate on the order of 10 hashes per second, making the system technically functional yet practically impractical — requiring millions of years to mine a single Bitcoin block under today’s difficulty. The work constitutes a landmark demonstration of computational universality within Minecraft, showcasing the expressive power of Redstone logic and the educational potential of in-game engineering.