• Core Scientific buys Block’s 3nm Bitcoin ASICs in a major deal between the two companies.
• The deal boosts Core Scientific’s hash rate by 60%, enhancing efficiency and profitability.
• The deal between Block and Core Scientific aims to redefine Bitcoin mining standards, leveraging advanced ASICs.

Jack Dorsey’s financial services company Block has finalized a major deal with Core Scientific, marking the first sale of its highly anticipated 3 nanometer Bitcoin mining ASICs.

This deal marks one of the largest ASIC agreements ever signed in the history of Bitcoin mining, underscoring Block’s commitment to advancing mining technology and Core Scientific’s strategic expansion in the sector.

Block’s 3nm Bitcoin mining ASICs

Developed by Block’s Proto team, the 3nm mining ASICs represent a leap forward in efficiency and performance for large-scale Bitcoin mining operations.

By integrating cutting-edge technology into these chips, Block aims to significantly enhance the efficiency, reliability, and uptime of mining activities conducted by firms like Core Scientific.

The 3nm ASCIs provides Core with 15 exahashes per second (EH/s) worth of chips and are set to increase the mining firm’s energized hash rate by a remarkable 60% as of June 2024.

Core Scientific, a publicly traded Bitcoin mining giant, has emerged as a key player in the industry’s recovery following recent challenges. The company’s stock (CORZ) has surged, reflecting investor confidence in its ability to leverage advanced mining technologies to bolster operational capabilities and profitability.

Core Scientific’s decision to purchase Block’s 3nm Bitcoin mining ASICs comes amidst a broader industry trend towards greater efficiency and sustainability in cryptocurrency mining, driven by technological innovation and environmental considerations.

Block pioneering a new era in Bitcoin mining

According to Russell Cann, Chief Development Officer at Core Scientific, the collaboration with Block marks a pivotal moment in scaling Bitcoin mining operations.

Cann emphasizes that the new mining platform built around Block’s 3nm ASICs will not only optimize space and operational resources within their data centers but also contribute to the long-term vitality of the Bitcoin network.

The partnership underscores a shared vision to redefine industry standards and accelerate the adoption of advanced mining technologies globally.

The strategic alliance between Block and Core Scientific highlights the growing importance of technological innovation in sustaining and expanding Bitcoin mining capabilities.

As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, advancements in ASIC technology are expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and profitability of mining operations.

With Core Scientific leading the charge as the first recipient of Block’s 3nm ASICs, the stage is set for further advancements that could shape the future of Bitcoin mining worldwide.

The ESG-focused mining company HIVE is the latest organization to sign a deal with Intel. It joins Block, Argo Blockchain, and GRIID, as the first clients and testers of the giant’s new ASICs. Intel’s Bonanza Mine project is quickly becoming one of bitcoin’s stories of the year. It’s funny that, so far, no one has seen the equipment. The idea of a bitcoin miner made in the US is appealing, though. Plus, the project’s rollout has been masterful so far. 

The headline here is that “HIVE owns state-of-the-art, green energy-powered data centre facilities in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland, where we source only green energy to mine.” In a recent press release, the company announced the Intel deal and its intention to expand into the US. “The Company is planning for a 100 MW deployment at one of Compute North’s renewable energy campuses in Texas.” 

HIVE self-proclaimed itself “the first cryptocurrency mining company with a green energy and ESG strategy”. The company’s other significant characteristic is that they’re holders. “Since the beginning of 2021, HIVE has held in secure storage the majority of its ETH and BTC coin mining rewards.” That goes in line with new data that shows that miners are quietly accumulating bitcoin as the market bleeds.

BTC price chart for 03/08/2022 on Capital.com | Source: BTC/USD on TradingView.com

What Do We Know About HIVE ‘s Deal With Intel?

Not much, really. “HIVE has entered into a Supply Agreement with Intel which is one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, for their upcoming blockchain accelerator.” Notice how HIVE calls the ASICs “blockchain accelerators,” just as Intel did in the company’s blog. Will the name catch on?

The press release doesn’t specify how many bitcoin miners will HIVE buy, but, it provides some relevant data: 

“These miners are expected to be delivered over a period of one year starting in the second half of calendar 2022, the effect of which, if they are all installed, would be an expected increase of up to 95% in our aggregate Bitcoin mining hashrate from 1.9 Exahash per second.”

It also quotes HIVE ‘s president, Aydin Kilic, who about the deal said:

“After months of careful planning, we are very excited to take this step forward with a global technology leader like Intel. HIVE is committed to implementing these next-generation blockchain accelerators in its green energy infrastructure.”

The ESG aspect of the whole endeavor is another important point here.

Bitcoin Keeps Going Greener And Greener

Recently, GRIID’s filling with the SEC revealed several characteristics of Intel’s new bitcoin miners. As always, NewsBTC got you the 411:

“When the world first heard about Intel’s ASIC ambitions, the company cleverly described the machines as “ultra-low-voltage energy-efficient.” How efficient will they actually be? Tom’s hardware answers:

“According to the listing, BMZ2’s performance weighs in at 135 TH/s with 26 J/THs of efficiency. Additionally, the miner is roughly half the cost of a competing Bitmain S19 Pro while being 15% more efficient, rivaling the best hardware on the market from competing companies.”

Would 15% really make that much of a difference? If it can rival the S19 Pro, it would. And Intel wouldn’t make this much noise if they didn’t have a winner in their hands, would they? Maybe HIVE ‘s president, Aydin Kilic, can shed some light on that:

“Intel’s energy-efficient and high performance blockchain accelerator is expected to reduce our power consumption over current ASIC miners on the market. HIVE will participate in the system development process from design verification, through to the prototype stages, and then factory & test engineering regimens to arrive at a production model; we are well-positioned and excited to undertake the process ahead.”

That’s right, the first few clients will help with the testing and development of Intel’s final product. That makes all the sense in the world. Let’s wish them luck, because an ASIC miner made in the US would certainly help break Bitmain’s quasi-monopoly. The bitcoin ecosystem needs more decentralization in that aspect. 

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