Pearl, which combines mining with AI computation… claims "a bigger change than Bitcoin"

Pearl, a project combining AI computation with cryptocurrency mining, is gaining attention for repurposing proof-of-work to train AI models and generate responses rather than solely securing a blockchain. Crypto venture investor Evan Van Ness said in a Nov. 11 interview with The Rollup that he considers Pearl "the biggest thing since Bitcoin" and "bigger than Bitcoin," noting he has focused on the project for over a year since learning of it roughly 18 months ago. The core idea is to direct mining compute toward useful work beyond Bitcoin, whose hashpower is valuable only to its own network. The claim matters because it tests whether proof-of-work can extend beyond security budgets into AI workloads, a potential new demand driver for mining hardware. Watch for whether Pearl's dual-use compute attracts sustained mining participation and real AI workloads.