POD256 | Bitcoin Mining, Freedom Tech, and Awesome Tangents

In this episode of POD256, Tyler and eco catch up on winter in Colorado, project trucks, and then dive deep into the latest in Bitcoin mining and freedom tech. We recap last week’s conversation with Keonne Rodriguez of Samourai Wallet, the urgent push for signatures on the pardon petition, and practical ways to support; while clarifying privacy-friendly ways to sign. We also discuss GrapheneOS stepping back from France amid regulatory pressure, the broader trend of governments targeting toolmakers, and why freedom tech from Bitcoin mining to open hardware matters now more than ever.On the mining front, we showcase Hydra Pool, our open-source non-custodial pool software, now running in our lab and soon to be public for Telehash #3 and beyond. We walk through the Grafana dashboard, PPLNS accounting for up to 100 addresses per coinbase, and our goal to migrate community hash over for solo mining support. We also update on Ember One and Libre Board: open-source hashboard and controller hardware moving through v5 prototyping on our pick-and-place, aiming for developer kits before fully assembled plug‑and‑play units. We hit Bitmain’s reported federal probe, solo block wins by small hashers, and the path to open hardware parity. We close with hasher shoutouts and a call to action: sign the Samourai petition and join Telehash to help fund open mining R&D.

In this urgent and heartfelt conversation, we sit down with Keonne Rodriguez, cofounder of Samourai Wallet, to unpack his prosecution and five-year federal sentence for building noncustodial Bitcoin privacy software. From the government’s shifting theory of “unlicensed money transmission” to conspiracy charges built on out-of-context tweets and slides, Keonne details how a noncustodial wallet was framed as a financial institution, even after FinCEN itself reportedly said it was not. We dig into Whirlpool’s design (no custody, blinded coordination), the difference between mixers and CoinJoin, and how broad prosecutorial language threatens developers, node operators, and even miners. Keonne walks us through the pretrial gauntlet, denied motions, the plea calculus that cut risk from 25 years to 5, and why truth often can’t reach a jury. He shares practical digital hygiene tips, why open source kept Samourai’s work alive (Ashigaru, RoninDojo), and how the community can help by amplifying the petition and supporting families. This episode is a call for builders and Bitcoiners to rally, defend open-source freedom tech, and stand against precedent that endangers everyone who values privacy. Resources and how to help: Sign and share the petition for clemency and support families at billandkeonne.org. If donating, use the non-crypto options listed until the dev's surrender date to avoid any bail-condition issues. Keep learning about CoinJoin, Dojo, and community forks like Ashigaru and advocate for legal defense infrastructure to protect open-source builders going forward.

In this episode, we go deep on the shifting landscape of Bitcoin mining hardware, open-source firmware, and why trustless stacks matter for miners big and small. Fresh off the local Bitcoin++ in Durham, we recap the vibe: a developer-heavy crowd, real collaboration between devs and miners, and our announcement of the Mujina developer preview—an open-source mining firmware now publicly accessible for hands-on testing. We discuss practical demo plans for the HeatPunk Summit, creative power ideas (from inverter gens to EVs like the F-150 Lightning/Cybertruck), and what it takes to stage quiet, controlled mining demos. From secure boot cat-and-mouse games to aftermarket control boards, we unpack why closed firmware is antithetical to Bitcoin’s trust-minimized ethos, the history from CGMiner and GPL violations, and how LibriBoard, Hydro Pool, and Start9 packaging can radically reduce friction for at-home and pro operators. We also cover Stratum v2 progress, open-source community wins (Home Assistant integrations, config-first setups), and tangible on-ramps for developers—including free Auradine chips from 256 Foundation for reverse engineering and Bitaxe-based Mujina dev workflows. We close with a candid segment on Freedom Tech, the chilling effects of targeting software developers, and why building and supporting open-source tools is essential for a free society. Resources and links mentioned (non-sponsor): - Mujina developer preview: github.com/256foundation/mujina - 256 Foundation chips request: 256foundation.org (contact form at page bottom) - Hydra Pool (self-hosted pool software) - LibriBoard (open control board initiative) - ESP-Miner and Bitaxe (dev-friendly hardware) - Start9 Office Hours (service packaging) and Hydra Pool packaging efforts - Exergy docs and forum: support.exergyheat.com - Bitcoin++ local edition (Durham), BitDevs communities - Stratum v2 discussions and implementations - Home Assistant miner integrations, Node-RED and shell-script config approaches

In episode 94 of POD256, we cover a full slate of Bitcoin mining and freedom tech updates from Nashville to Denver. We recap the Bitcoin Veterans telehash fundraiser that briefly peaked near 98.5 PH, discuss PPLNS dynamics at Ocean and Slush/Brains, and explore Square’s new Lightning payments rollout. We share a field report from installing an immersion-based hashrate heating system on subsidized power in Buena Vista, the pros/cons of immersion (including an oil-leak mishap), and how recapturing heat favors small, distributed miners. We dive deep into 256 Foundation progress: Ember One hashboard prototyping on the pick-and-place, the Libre control board, Ant Hat and Edit boards, Hydra Pool’s PPLNS design with a public shares API, and the imminent open-sourcing of Mujina firmware. We also preview January’s Telehash at Bitcoin Park where we’ll “eat our own dog food” by running Ember One + Libre + Mujina against our self-hosted Hydra Pool instance. Finally, we break down the Samourai Wallet sentencing, why the “unlicensed money transmitter” framing is dangerous despite Samourai’s non-custodial design, the realities around “restricted markets,” and why broad community action (including a pardon push and better anonymity for devs) is critical. Plus: Start9 VPN tunneling in Alpha 12, packaging Hydra Pool for StartOS, and listener hash-rate shoutouts across Lincoin, Solo CK, Public Pool, and Ocean.

In this episode, we dive into Canaan’s surprising GitHub drop and what it could mean for open-source mining, license tangles and all. We unpack the inclusion of CGMiner, the BSD-3 vs GPLv3 conflict, and Canaan’s RISC-V K230 SDK. We also explore the Nano 3/Nano 3S design, home-mining momentum, and the practical realities of certification (FCC/UL/CE/RoHS) for miners and heater-integrations. From local vs remote control to insurance implications, we discuss the gauntlet that open hardware must run and why decentralization requires openness. We spotlight Intel BZM2 progress: Bitaxe Bonanza’s lessons, the new BIRDS dev board, nine-bit serial hurdles, and a call for builders to leverage upcoming chip availability. Hydra Pool hits a milestone with public Dockerized releases and coinbase payout flexibility, while we test live at test.hydropool.org (and note Bitmain firmware limits). We cover Pluto’s HRF grant for fleet management, ESPminer stewardship funding, and D++’s Lightning-powered gamification for community builds. We also discuss Support for the Samourai Wallet devs, including context around sentencing and broader implications for open-source freedom. We preview Bitcoin++ Durham on Nov 15, share updates on the Samurai Wallet developers’ impending sentencing, and talk product integrity, copying, and the push to re-shore manufacturing. Finally, we tee up HeatPunk Summit 2026; bringing HVAC pros and open-source miners together, and have fun with Lightning “thermo-zaps” for live heating control.

In this episode, we range from ice-cold mornings and sunny Colorado skies to a deep dive on home mining, heat reuse, open hardware, and sovereign home automation. We recap getting featured in Forbes on Heat Punk projects and how mainstream coverage is finally grokking mining-as-heat, Canon’s heating-first designs, and Bitmain’s market dominance risks. We share real-world progress: integrating Canaan home miners with Home Assistant via APIs and Node-RED, using Zigbee sensors for room-aware thermostatic control, solar and TOU-aware automations, and the vision for a sovereign “miner control hub” box built on Raspberry Pi 5. We get nerdy on RISC‑V vs ARM, open firmware, and the Libre Board + Mujina roadmap, with detours through customs-destroyed SMD parts, packaging HydroPool for Docker, and the power of public, self-hosted pools after a solo-Block win with a NerdQAX. We also cover privacy and the surveillance creep: doorbells, cars, app signing, and why self-hosted tools (Pi-hole, PFsense, Mullvad, Signal, Proton/Tutanota) matter. We discuss HPC pivots by large miners, grid vs. heat-reuse economics, Canaan’s momentum in home heating, and the imminent Telehash on HydroPool with StartOS packaging on deck. Plus, the Stealth Miner enclosure, Bitaxe-powered heat projects, and shoutouts to the open-source crew making sovereignty practical at home, one sensor, miner, and Docker container at a time.

In this episode, we go deep on two fronts: protecting open-source projects from trademark hijacking and advancing real-world hash rate heating. We share the ongoing battle to oppose fraudulent USPTO filings on the BitAxe mark, why “TM” vs. registered matters, and how we’re navigating opposition, Madrid Protocol options, and the broader goal of keeping open hardware open without enabling scammers. We then switch to practical engineering: Tyler walks us through immersion mining powering radiant floor heat, dynamic performance scaling, control loops with Home Assistant, thermostats and dry coolers, and why tight software control beats expensive hardware band-aids. We unpack LibreBoard and Mujina plans, APIs, Stratum v1/v2 quirks, Intel vs. Bitmain chip behaviors, and how PyASIC/ASIC-RS standardize miner control. We also touch on FreeCAD pains, open-source CAD needs, educational content plans, and a wild idea: launching a BitAxe to low Earth orbit for space-mining experiments. The throughline: building a sustainable, open-source mining ecosystem where entrepreneurs can profit while dismantling proprietary roadblocks, especially for heat reuse at home and in buildings.Resources we discussed or referenced include: USPTO trademark process and oppositions, Madrid Protocol for international marks, Home Assistant integrations with open thermostats/APIs, LibreBoard and Mujina firmware architecture, BrainsOS and DPS/ATM concepts, PyASIC and ASIC-RS (standardizing miner APIs), FreeCAD/KiCad vs. proprietary CAD, and Dyson Labs’ BitAxe-in-space concept. We wrap with shout-outs to community hashers supporting 256 Foundation and an invitation to contribute, test, and build on these open platforms.

In this episode of POD256, we go deep on open-source Bitcoin mining with live updates from TabConf. We kick off with some tax-day banter and quickly shift into the real meat: the imminent release of Mujina; an open-source, Rust-based, modular mining firmware designed for flexibility (think hot-swappable hashboards, per-chip capability-aware work assignment, and embedded Linux distro ambitions). We discuss the Ember One hashboard iterations, pragmatic scope control, and why a community-driven, iterative approach matters. Then we dive into HydraPool, our open-source, one-click, low-friction Stratum v1 pool initiative: why we moved from a CKPool fork to a fresh Rust stratum server, PPLNS design trade offs, verifiable share accounting via API streams, and breaking legacy limitations like coinbase output caps imposed by vendor firmware. From the floor at TabConf, Skot and AverageGary join to showcase Stratum v2 progress packaged for Start9, NAT traversal via hole-punching (Iroh), and the vision that every meetup can host its own pool. We explore encrypted, binary Stratum v2; coinbase privacy; integrating Rust tooling (BDK/LDK/ASIC-RS); and practical features like dummy work for heat reuse and load management. We compare payout mechanics (Ocean, Datum/TIDES, DMND SliceJD with job-declared fees), custody nuances, and eCash/eHash concepts for flexible, local pool accounting. We wrap with real-world updates: home-assistant-driven solar-aware mining control, shout-outs to our hasher community, Telehash plans, and why smaller, faster nodes and decentralized pools will birth more economic nodes. It’s a dense, nerdy, forward-looking tour of the open mining stack becoming reality.

In this episode, I host a deep dive on open-source Bitcoin mining hardware and network policy. We kick off with updates on the Ember One v5 hashboard design: a modern, smarter voltage regulator with digital telemetry and over-temp safeguards, header breakouts for optional fan-control daughterboards, and the tradeoff of dropping 24V input in favor of better performance up to 17V. We talk real-world cooling scenarios from hardwired desk fans to immersion, water blocks, and the dream of a fully passive, fanless space-heater miner, and how firmware can target room temperature using external thermostats or Home Assistant, including hashing on dummy work for heat when the network’s down. We also cover system builds with S9 chassis reuse, USB hub scaling, and the open-source release on the 256 Foundation’s GitHub.Then we zoom out to software and network sovereignty: IPv6 support work on Bitaxe and why testing the full chain (ISP to router to device) matters; the merits of self-hosting vs cloud IoT, dynamic DNS, and why more economic nodes will matter as home mining grows. We wade into Bitcoin Core vs Knots relay/mempool policy drama, argue for keeping “the knobs” and user choice, and explore a BIP proposing a scriptable mempool policy. Finally, we unpack copyleft vs MIT licensing for hardware and software, what “preferred format for modification” means for open hardware (use real CAD source, e.g., KiCad), how legal enforcement has played out (Cisco/Linux precedent), and why open-source accelerates development, decentralizes control, and creates durable ecosystems using Bitaxe’s rapid growth as a case study.

In this episode, the crew reunites post-ImagineIF to debrief an energizing week across Bitcoin, AI, energy, and Freedom Tech. Rod thanks the team and presenters for delivering high-signal talks within tight constraints, and we reflect on why keeping events intimate translates into more action at the community level. We hit the State of the Network, discuss mining economics, and whether large public miners may pivot toward HPC/AI. Then we spotlight hands-on innovation: sovereign smart homes with at-home miners, open-source hardware and firmware progress (Libre Board prototypes, Ember One v5 updates, and Hydra Pool nearing public release), and what it means to prioritize energy-centric control over hashrate alone. We close by celebrating a showcase home miner build: an immaculate hydro-cooled array of BitAxes with battery integration, PLC control, and custom dashboards; ilustrating how open tooling unlocks real-world experimentation and efficiency gains.