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Consider a Blockchain where proof-of-work mining takes place by solving a hard problem: for a given set of parameters, determine how long life will last in a realistic ancestor simulation. Consider also a play-to-earn game in the form of a realistic ancestor simulation where players grind menial portions of the game and sell the artifacts of their progress in a market backed by the aforementioned Blockchain. With apologies to Bostrom, we must accept exactly one of these as true:

- that this is not technologically possible with current or future tech

- no one would possibly do something this stupid

- it is nearly 100% certain that our universe exists in someone's hair-brained web3 Ponzi scheme




You forgot the possibility that the outside civilisation is destroyed (eg by itself) before such simulation technology becomes technically feasible.

Not sure whether I should welcome my simulator overlords or search for weaknesses in Bostrom's argument.




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