The Intel Blockscale ASIC, an upcoming bitcoin mining chip, has been announced. It will ship during Q3 of 2022. As Intel’s chip focuses on energy efficiency and sustainability, it is able to cut energy consumption by up to 26 joules per terabyte. This hardware is equipped with application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that utilize SHA-256 encryption for proof-of-work blockchain applications.
Intel will be supplying its customers with only the ASIC chips themselves, rather than supplying them with a complete ASIC mining system, as is currently the case in the industry
Intel has confirmed that Blockscale will have a hash rate of up to 580 gigahashes per second (or 0.58 terahashes per second, or TH/s), consuming between 4.8 and 22.7 watts of power, and having an energy efficiency of up to 26 joules per terahash (J/TH). In fact, each chip can be combined and merged into a single mining unit for maximum output, bringing its output to a maximum of 256 integrated circuits per chain.
Thus, if a mining system involves 256 Intel Blockscale ASIC chips, it should be able to produce approximately 148 TH/s and should consume a power consumption of about 3,860 watts (W). As for the flagship air-cooled mining system of its current global market leader, Bitmain, its energy consumption is 3010 W, but its output is 140 TH/s, which is an impressive 21.5 J/TH power efficiency.
Intel has announced that it will begin shipping Blockscale technology by the end of the third quarter of 2022. Companies such as AgroBlockchain, Block, Hive Blockchain Technologies and GRIID Infrastructure will be among the first to develop new systems based on the company’s ASIC. As for the development, Jose Rios, general manager for blockchain and business solutions for Intel’s accelerated computing systems and graphics group, stated:
We are proud to collaborate with and provide solutions to companies that are creating a more sustainable cryptocurrency ecosystem globally. The Intel Blockscale ASIC will play a major role in helping Bitcoin mining companies achieve both sustainability and hash rate scaling objectives in the years ahead.
Jose Rios, GM – Blockchain & Business Solutions (Intel)
Intel has said that it will start working with and supplying prospective customers who share its sustainability objectives starting in 2023.
