Crypto mining is when a computer's computational power is being used to solve a cryptography puzzle. The rig (PC) is contributing to the validation of the ledger. (common information). And in return, it has a chance to earn a bitcoin, or some other form of 'value'. (What is Crypto and Blockchain?)
All those computers, working together become "Greater than the sum of their parts", in this case a sort of decentralized banking institution, allowing 'virtual currency exchange' but all of that energy and time being spent solving a puzzle could be spent doing much much more.
Seti once had a screensaver program based on crowd-sourced processor use for searching space for extra terrestrials. Link to Seti@home
(At the bottom of this page you'll see a list of networks you can contribute to yourself)
The US Air force built a system using #Sony #PlayStations to develop their supercomputer.
https://phys.org/news/2010-12-air-playstation-3s-supercomputer.html
When your PC or Gaming console is not in use by you, it is available to be pooled and accessed for amazing things.The idea of using a distributed processor networks (the power of those multiple computers joined together) to create supercomputers is a amazing technological achievement.
Where it's at right now, thanks to #Bitcoin and #Blockchain is very exciting.
It's about to meet DNA.
DNA sequencing is a good first use of the massive super processor networks.
A secondary benefit to the technology is the concept of using the Blockchain itself as a method for storing DNA data itself. This eases transmission, access and storage problems relatively easily.
Another fantastic benefit is that it offers Additional privacy layers .
There are a huge host of projects that could be integrated into #CryptoMining systems.
now you can use your mining rig to heat your home. awesome. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/cryptocurrency-heater-quarnot/