[gorgonian]

Is there actually any use to discovering ever-larger prime numbers?

[zeep]

I know that's probably not what you mean but there is money prizes: https://www.eff.org/awards/coop

[sanderjd]

Because they're there...

[kss238]

Cryptography

[B-Con]

There's no cryptographic use in finding a largest prime. It's far larger than any prime used in a practical system and doesn't contribute any mathematical knowledge about primes.

It's mostly just running an algorithm for long enough to pay off.

[madez]

Come on, stop spreading nonsense. These huge primes are irrelevant for cryptography.