Economics of Bitcoin Mining

This chapter explores the intricacies of Bitcoin mining, focusing on the economics of mining rigs and their lifespan. It discusses the market dynamics of mining hardware, investment strategies, and the implications of using older equipment during fluctuating market conditions. Additionally, the chapter covers innovations in the Lightning network, including splicing and liquidity solutions, enhancing transactional efficiency.

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Preston Pysh brings Blockstream's Adam Back and James Macedonio to the show. They talk about Blockstream’s efforts to develop their very own ASIC miner and what it takes to take something like that to market and all the challenges that are associated with it.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

00:00 - Intro

01:23 - Why is building an ASIC like building a high-performance race car?

10:02 - How do you think through production and reliability when building an ASIC?

10:02 - How can one test the reliability of an ASIC when its actual performance is always on?

15:05 - Why is there so much inventory of ASICs on the market right now?

24:29 - What is the Blockstream BASIC note?

24:29 - What was the performance of the previous Blockstream Mining Note and how is it different than the BASIC?

41:35 - Some people say layer 1 bitcoin might become too costly and layer 2 can't scale, what are your thoughts?

46:19 - What is Adam's thoughts on drivechains?

56:49 - Are there other blockchains that have experimented with OP CATs that were originally coded into Bitcoin but now are turned-off for safety reasons?

01:06:51 - Do we even need more scripting on layer 1 for Bitcoin to solve "clown world"?

01:08:02 - Are engineers being reasonable with the speed at which they want to roll-out updates?

BOOKS AND RESOURCES

Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, and the other community members.
Adam Back's Twitter.
Information about the Blockstream BASIC note.
Information about the Blockstream ASIC they are building.
Information about Drivechains on Bitcoin.
Related episode: Listen to BTC054: A Sovereign Bitcoin Bond in El Salvador w/ Adam Back & Samson Mow, or watch the video.
Related episode: Listen to BTC040: Bitcoin ASIC Manufacturing by Blockstream w/ Adam Back & Samson Mow, or watch the video.

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