On Monday, semiconductor manufacturing giant Intel unveiled its new Bitcoin (BTC) mining chip, Blockscale. Application Specific Integrated Circuit, or ASIC, hardware is designed to operate on proof-of-work blockchains using SHA-256 encryption.
According to Intel, Blockscale will have a hash rate of up to 580 gigahash per second (or 0.58 terahash per second, TH/s), it will consume between 4.8 and 22.7 watts of power and have an energy efficiency of up to 26 joules per terajash (J/TH). Each chip can be combined and merged into a single mining unit, increasing your output with a maximum of 256 ICs per chain.
Blockscale concept art | Source: Intel
Comparatively, Bitmain’s Antminer S19 Pro, one of the leading Bitcoin miners on the market, has a hash rate of 110 TH/s, draws 3,250 watts of power, and has a power efficiency of 30 J/TH. In theory, a mining unit made up of 256 Blockscale chips would have a total hash rate of 148.5 TH/s and consume between 1,228 and 5,811 watts of power with roughly the same power efficiency.
Intel says it will start shipping Blockscale during the third quarter of 2022. Argo Blockchain, Block, Hive Blockchain Technologies and GRIID Infrastructure will be among the first companies to develop new systems based on the company’s ASIC. Regarding the development, José Ríos, general manager of Blockchain and Business Solutions in the Group of Graphics and Accelerated Computing Systems of Intel, commented:
“We are proud to collaborate and provide solutions to companies that are creating a more sustainable cryptocurrency ecosystem globally. The Intel Blockscale ASIC will play an important role in helping bitcoin mining companies achieve both their sustainability and scaling goals.” the hash rate in the coming years”.
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