Block wants to develop scalable Bitcoin (BTC) mining solutions. To that end, Jack Dorsey’s company is launching an open development kit, which will allow them to build mining rigs based on their users’ needs. What will it look like?
Block launches Bitcoin mining SDK
Block’s development kit will include the basic physical components to create its own mining unit, as well as open source software. The idea of the Mining Development Kit (MDK) was announced by Jack Dorsey in 2021:
Square is considering building a Bitcoin mining system based on custom silicon and open source for individuals and businesses worldwide. If we do this, we’d follow our hardware wallet model: build in the open in collaboration with the community. First some thoughts and questions.
– jack (@jack) October 15, 2021
Square plans to build a Bitcoin mining system that is based on components that are suitable and open source for individuals and companies around the world.
Block had already started developing its own ASIC dedicated to Bitcoin mining. In parallel, the company intends to build these kits with its community, and has since begun work on this vast project. It details in a press release the components being created (hashboard, controller board, software), as well as the documentation that will be delivered with it.
Making Bitcoin mining more adaptable
This “do it yourself” approach to Bitcoin mining is still very rare in the ecosystem. Currently, the almost universally used ASIC machines are less adaptable when it comes to integrating mining with other systems. Block therefore wants to offer a kit that is adaptable to wider sectors:
“We expect the MDK to be useful for development projects that focus on integrating Bitcoin mining with various innovative use cases – for example heating solutions, off-grid mining, home mining […] as well as optimising mining hardware for traditional operators. “
This last point was highlighted by Jack Dorsey in 2021, who believed that Bitcoin mining would benefit from being more decentralised, and more accessible. He said that Bitcoin mining “should be as simple as plugging hardware into the mains”. Block wants to be at the forefront of the future of mining, bear market or not. Its development kit could in any case attract attention, in an industry that still relies heavily on ASICs.
