The methodology is very flawed. If anything, he's invented a new proof of work coin. Guess the hash function and it's inputs such that there collisions in the ranges you'd expect.
Can we please not cringe everything into coin & blockchain talk.
1) The research is cringe. 2) it's appropriate because he's literally guessing hashes.
Sure, but I visibly wince when I read "coin" these days. Please excuse me.