Chip Giant Intel Abandons Bitcoin ASIC Production

After saying the manufacturing of bitcoin application-specific built-in circuits (ASICs), Intel, the world’s largest semiconductor chip producer by income, seems to be abandoning its blockchain chip manufacturing. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the chip producer defined that Intel has “end-of-lifed the Intel Blockscale 1000 Series ASIC.”

Intel Spokesperson Discloses Company Has End-of-Lifed the Blockscale 1000 Series ASIC

In February 2022, the California-based know-how firm Intel made headlines when it announced its plan to create “energy-efficient accelerators,” or ASIC know-how, to contribute to the event of blockchain applied sciences. Later that month, on the 2022 International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), the corporate unveiled the Bonanza Mine BMZ1. At that point, Tom’s Hardware creator Paul Alcorn stated that Intel was additionally creating a second iteration of the Bonanza Mine ASIC, referred to as the BMZ2.

Moreover, in March 2022, it was reported that mining companies reminiscent of Hive, Argo, Block, and Grrid have been shopping for bitcoin mining chips from Intel. On Tuesday, Tom’s Hardware reporter Alcorn spoke to Intel concerning the undertaking, and it seems that Intel is discontinuing its bitcoin accelerator manufacturing, often known as “Blockscale chips.” Alcorn additional notes that “no future generations have been announced.” An Intel spokesperson said:

As we prioritize our investments in IDM 2.0, we now have end-of-lifed the Intel Blockscale 1000 Series ASIC whereas we proceed to assist our Blockscale clients.

In addition, Alcorn’s report notes that “Blockscale ASIC landing pages are now all inactive,” and product pages have been “scrubbed.” Intel additionally knowledgeable the reporter that clients have till October 2023 to order chips, however “shipments will end in April 2024.” So far, the dominant pressure within the ASIC manufacturing trade has been Bitmain, with few opponents. Aside from Bitmain, companies reminiscent of Microbt, Canaan, and Innosilicon additionally function on this house. According to reports, Bitmain makes use of 5nm TSMC-made chips, whereas Microbt utilizes Samsung’s 5nm ASIC know-how. Additionally, Samsung is reportedly within the course of of making 3nm ASIC chips.

What do you suppose this transfer means for the way forward for ASIC manufacturing? Do you see any ASIC manufacturing opponents coming to the trade? Share your ideas about this topic within the feedback part under.

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