Advancements in Mining Hardware Technology

This chapter explores the evolution of mining hardware, focusing on ASICs designed specifically for Bitcoin mining efficiency. It discusses the challenges of assessing long-term reliability, the transition to immersion cooling, and the importance of component interoperability and cost considerations. Insights into current market conditions and manufacturing processes are also highlighted, emphasizing the competitive edge of specialized equipment over general-purpose computing resources.

Transcript

chevron_right

Play full episode

chevron_right

Transcript

Episode notes

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.

SPONSORS

Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:

River
Toyota
Range Rover
Briggs & Riley
American Express
The Bitcoin Way
Public
Onramp
USPS
SimpleMining
Sound Advisory
Shopify
AT&T
BAM Capital

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!

Get the app

Home Top podcasts Popular guests