Definition ∞ GPU parallel processing refers to the simultaneous execution of multiple computations using a graphics processing unit, which contains hundreds or thousands of smaller cores. Unlike central processing units, GPUs excel at handling many tasks concurrently, making them highly efficient for operations that can be broken down into independent, repeatable steps. This capability significantly accelerates computational workloads by distributing them across numerous processing units. It is particularly useful for tasks requiring extensive mathematical operations.
Context ∞ In cryptocurrency news, GPU parallel processing gained prominence during the early days of Proof-of-Work mining, especially for Bitcoin and Ethereum. Miners utilized GPUs to rapidly calculate cryptographic hashes, competing to add new blocks to the blockchain. While ASICs largely superseded GPUs for Bitcoin mining, GPUs remain relevant for mining other cryptocurrencies and for various cryptographic computations, including zero-knowledge proof generation, which is a subject of ongoing research and development.
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