Jack Dorsey’s Block Plans to Build a Mining Development Kit
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Block, a payments startup formerly known as Square, is reportedly considering developing a mining development kit as it dives deeper into the cryptocurrency mining market.
Block Seeks Support for New Venture
Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey first outlined his plans for a public Bitcoin mining infrastructure for organizations and individuals in October 2021. After those designs were approved in January 2022, development got underway.
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
According to Naoise Irwin, a senior product lead for mining hardware, they have been heads down forming a team to explore their mining hardware plan since then.
He also stated that they had begun the difficult process of developing their own Bitcoin mining semiconductor chips (ASICs) and that more modifications to the mining hardware program would be released in the ensuing weeks and months.
In October we announced that we’re considering building a bitcoin mining system, out in the open & alongside the community, and we’ve decided…we’re doing it! We thought we’d share some more details on how our initial discussions are going and where we’re headed next. https://t.co/wURxEKBpJ5
— Thomas Templeton (@TempletonThomas) January 13, 2022
A blog post release on March 7 noted that Block, the multinational technology company created by Jack Dorsey, was considering its most recent plan for boosting its Bitcoin mining objectives.
To get more perspective, Naoise Irwin sent an email seeking developer feedback on the initiative. When completed, the mining development Kit (MDK) will provide various tools to developers, encouraging innovation and creativity in bitcoin mining gear.
The MDK will also be helpful for projects that integrate bitcoin mining into a variety of novel use cases, such as heating solutions, home mining, and off-grid mining, as well as for projects that optimize bitcoin mining hardware for everyday commercial mining operations.
Block stated that the kit would include several parts, such as an industrial-grade Bitcoin mining hashboard that would work with the company’s proprietary control board and external controllers like Raspberry Pi.
In an attempt to have a clear design focus, the company requested feedback on the features of the hashboard that developers may use. This includes cooling techniques, ease of maintenance, increased uptime, and many more.
A customized controller board will also be there and function with the hashboard. The requested feedback includes configuration methods, connection type, interfaces, and so on.
It also noted the availability of open-source firmware, a software API and a web front-end that allows developers to customize the key performance indicators of the hashboard. They also sought requests on the preferences for a programming language, operating systems, and others.
Unlocking Innovation in Bitcoin Mining
Jack Dorsey plans to create a single system to increase accessibility to Bitcoin mining and further decentralize the BTC network that has been on for a while.
According to him, Square, now known as Block, an American financial services company, planned to investigate the technical requirements for developing an open-source Bitcoin mining system.
In a series of tweets, Dorsey laid out his plans to further decentralize Bitcoin mining by taking a collaborative approach.
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
He stated that for individuals and companies globally, Block plans to develop a Bitcoin mining system based on open-source software and customized hardware. He further noted that the Bitcoin network gets more robust the more decentralized this is.
Dorsey believes that increased decentralization of the Bitcoin network will be essential for transactions to be settled safely long after the final bitcoin is created.
Moreover, Square’s system promised to provide energy-efficient mining solutions through innovation in silicon, software, and integration.
Jesse Dorogusker, Square’s hardware lead, who previously assisted in the rollout of Square’s hardware wallet and custody service, will serve as the project’s leader.
However, Dorsey claimed that the company would build the mining system with a similar cooperative process used to create its assisted custody Bitcoin hardware wallet.
