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Intel’s bitcoin-mining Blockscale chips return from the dead, being given away for free — 256,000 Intel Bonanza Mine ASICs donated by Jack Dorsey’s Block, will be distributed to DIYers and open-hardware projects

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Tom's Hardware

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Intel's bitcoin-mining Blockscale chips, previously abandoned, are making a comeback through a donation of 256,000 Intel Bonanza Mine ASICs by Jack Dorsey's Block, Inc. These chips, designed for efficient Bitcoin mining, will be distributed to DIYers and open-hardware projects by the nonprofit 256 Foundation. The chips were initially launched by Intel in 2022 with high power efficiency and hash rate capabilities. Recipients of the chips will use them for open-source hardware projects, potentially expanding their applications beyond Bitcoin mining to areas like home heating and energy capture. This move represents a shift towards open development in the mining hardware industry, challenging the dominance of closed ecosystems like Bitmain's.

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