Maxcoin $MAX

Maxcoin is a cryptocurrency project that stands out in the ecosystem due to its unique approach towards achieving a fair and equitable launch. Its primary objective was to ensure that the playing field was leveled for all participants, with no pre-emptive advantages offered to any particular group. The practical measures that were put in place in order to achieve this are worth exploring in further detail.

Zero % Premine and Fast Retargeting

Maxcoin demonstrated its commitment to fairness right from the outset, as evidenced by its decision to have a zero % premine. This is a notable feature of the cryptocurrency, as it implies that no coins were mined prior to the official launch. The accuracy of this claim can be verified by examining the timestamps of the first blocks in a block explorer.

Another noteworthy aspect of Maxcoin's strategy to ensure fairness is the fast retarget rate implemented until block 200. This was aimed at combating low-difficulty instamining, thereby ensuring that the coin did not become overly concentrated in the hands of a select few early adopters.

Kimoto Gravity Well Implementation

From block 200, Maxcoin transitioned to the Kimoto Gravity Well implementation for retargeting. This decision was another component of its overarching strategy to ensure fair distribution and equitable mining conditions for all participants in the Maxcoin ecosystem.

Release of the Maxcoin Clients

To counterbalance potential timezone advantages and ensure wider distribution, Maxcoin set a hard deadline for the release of the Maxcoin clients - 7.30PM GMT on Thursday the 6th of February 2014. This allowed news of the coin's launch to spread globally, providing everyone with an equal chance to prepare and mine at the official start time.

Usage of Keccak

Keeping its commitment to innovation, Maxcoin chose Keccak, a member of the SHA-3 family, over SHA-2, which is used by Bitcoin. Keccak, pronounced like 'Ketchup', was the winner of a 5-year long competition to create a successor or an alternative to SHA-2. This choice has further differentiated Maxcoin from other cryptocurrencies and underlines its distinct identity.