Quote from: gat3way on July 04, 2012, 11:00:03 PM

Not with an ASIC, not even for sha256(sha256(password))-type hashes, not even for the simplest single-hash case as opposed to the hashlist scenario which is much more complicated. Bitcoin mining is different as compared to hash cracking, inputs follow a certain pattern. It doesn't have to worry about candidate generation, full-length hash comparisons and more complex cases involving comparisons against lists of hashes where hash bitmaps or similar technique needs to be employed for early rejects in order to reduce the SLOW host-device transfers.

Sorry, you can't profit on mining ASICs in case something generally f***s up.

Bandwidth ? the low amount of memory required for the hash to be checked can fit easily on-board, (512bk for ~16 000 hashes ?)

I'm no expert but there is certainly a way to reuse the hashing blocks for cracking, even if that mean adding 10x to the cost of hardware.
(If someone see the chance of bitcoin to succeed at 10% that'll be worth it for him.)