

THE MINING POD: Jack Dorsey's Proto Miner is Coming For Bitmain
Sep 8, 2025
Perry Hothi from Block, a leading figure in the cryptocurrency hardware sector, discusses the launch of Proto’s new ASIC miner, Rig. He dives into its impressive 14.1 joules per hash efficiency and swappable hashboard design. The conversation explores how Block plans to challenge established competitors like Bitmain, emphasizing their open-source software initiative and efficiency features. Perry also shares insights on optimizing performance and the broader implications for the Bitcoin ecosystem.
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Seeing A Hot Aisle Changed Minds
- Perry described walking attendees into a hot aisle to show why there are no rear fans on Rig.
- People immediately understood the maintenance and safety benefits after seeing it live.
Modularity Trumps Single-Metric Marketing
- Block designed Rig as a modular, configurable miner to match different power prices and financing needs.
- Perry Hothi says flexibility in board count and configs targets profitability, not just headline efficiency.
Built To Fit Existing Data Centers
- Rig matches standard rack dimensions so it fits existing infrastructure and power constraints.
- The miner uses three 4kW PSUs to distribute single-phase draw across three facility phases and preserve balance.