If I understand this, currently the bitcoin network is larger than the top 500 supercomputers. And all of this "work" is being carried out just to ensure the integrity of itself. This seems completely vain. What if the network utilized more dynamic work such as work from one or many of the BOINC networks AND maintained the security of the network? This would probably require a new block chain, but this would be the first kind of currency backed by SCIENCE. Not backed by some arbitrary algorithm, but backed by discovery.

I realize a major problem with this concept. This would create a kind of centralization. Who would dictate the work the network would generate? Would a strong cryptographic key be used to administer the work flow to each client? This would resemble a central authority. But what if we allow the network to decided what work it wants to do by consensus. Allow people to vote on the type of work, and those nodes that don't vote would automatically follow the greater consensus.

This would give governments and other authorities a reason to keep the network alive and maybe even support it. It would function as an engine of invention.

Why would anyone want to destroy that?