Neuromorphic computing breakthrough could enable blockchain on Mars.

There are no ATMs on Mars. In fact, Red Planet currently does not have the infrastructure to support financial transactions. This poses a huge challenge for future colonists who want to use Bitcoin (BTC) to order pizza or trade monkeys with non-friendly token (NFT) friends on Earth.

The solution to this problem may come in the form of recent studies in the field of neuromorphic computing.

Traditional extraterrestrial communication is a complex, labor-intensive process that results in delays of minutes under optimal conditions. When future colonists travel to Mars, their ship's computers quickly lose their ability to communicate in real time with Earthbound computers and servers.

Once the colonists reach Mars, their communications system will experience a delay of up to 22 minutes, depending on the planet's position relative to Earth at the time, in sending and receiving data.

While 44 minutes doesn't seem like that big of a deal, there are also issues of signal loss, radiation interference, and data corruption.

Neuromorphic calculation

Back on Earth, the world of technology runs on cloud computing. From billions of iPhones to the most powerful supercomputers, every networked machine uses some form of remote data processing or computation.

Neuromorphic computers are designed to solve data-driven problems using real-time pattern recognition. Basically, they are built to mimic the human brain. Instead of a traditional CPU, they use a system of neurons that process data in memory, making them extremely low-latency devices.

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This makes neuromorphic computer chips ideal for real-time data analysis at the edge—that is, using on-board hardware—such as deep-sea research facilities, outer space, and other planets.

Unfortunately, one of the most promising types of neuromorphic computer chips, so-called self-contained chips, uses materials that cannot be predicted from one device to another. Although they offer great promise, this shortcoming means that sometimes these special chips will throw their data undetected.

A group of researchers in South Korea recently had a major breakthrough in developing these chips and, according to their research, overcame this limitation. With further development, their neuromorphic computing chip architecture could lay the foundation for a revolution in edge computing.

Blockchain on Mars

Running a blockchain transaction on the ground is a relatively simple process for end users, but the decentralized computing that underlies the technology requires multiple nodes working in concert. Most modern computers are capable of serving as nodes and in some cases cryptocurrencies can still be mined using personal computers.

However, if all remote infrastructure is taken away – including land-based energy sources – it will be impossible to rapidly mine cryptocurrency or conduct transactions on the blockchain. Re-creating this infrastructure on Mars as it is on Earth by 2024 could take decades or more.

Like Elon Musk, humans will reach Mars before then. And, while trading cryptocurrency may not be their top priority, they ultimately need to make trusted transactions with Earth.

Neuromorphic computers are purpose-built for such situations. By working in parallel with traditional computers, it will allow Mars colonists to run edge processing that requires real-time communication with remote resources and advanced infrastructure.

In theory, simple computing devices with self-respecting neuromorphic processing chips could provide real-time automation and data processing for an expanding blockchain network on Mars. This allows colonists to come up with Earth-based blockchains.

Without neuromorphic edge computing, blockchain transactions would have to be initiated on Mars, processed on Earth, sent to Mars for letter verification, and then sent back to Earth for re-verification. This means that each single blockchain transaction can take days to propagate between nodes.

Neuromorphic computers do not solve the transmission delay. Until communication technology improved, colonists would still be forced to wait up to 44 minutes for transmission between Mars and Earth.

However, with neuromorphic computer chips handling the heavy lifting, those transactions can occur in bursts containing multiple transactions.

Then 1:1 hourly updates and price alignment will be possible between interplanetary cryptocurrency markets.

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