For a parallel programming class at my university I need to implement some sort of parallel computation. It is a broad as that. I was thinking to do something involving crypto-coin mining. I would really like to try to optimize a current algorithm or try to implement something new in parallel. Obviously people are already trying stuff like this and I am trying to get a good understanding of where everything is currently at some I might find something I could contribute to for my project.

I was wondering if anyone might have any ideas that would be interesting and useful to the community. I will have about 6 weeks to devote to it so it can't be a massive under taking.