Intel Discontinues Bitcoin-Mining Blockscale Chips, No Future Gens Announced

It’s been just over a year since Intel officially unveiled its Bitcoin mining blockscale ASIC, but today the company is in production of its first-generation Blockscale 1000 series chips without announcing a subsequent generation of chips. announced the end. When he spoke to Intel about the matter, the company said: tom’s hardware “In order to prioritize investment in IDM 2.0, we have discontinued production of the Intel Blockscale 1000 Series ASICs, but will continue to support Blockscale customers.”

Intel’s statement cited the company’s greater focus on IDM 2.0 operations as the reason for discontinuing block-scale ASICs. This is frequently withheld from many statements as it has closed several businesses amid company-wide belt tightening. When asked if Intel plans to exit the Bitcoin ASIC business entirely, the company said it “continues to monitor market opportunities.”

In its initial announcement of the company’s entry into the blockchain market, then-graphics chief Raja Koduri said it had built a custom AXG graphics unit within its AXG graphics unit to support Bitcoin ASICs and “additional emerging technologies.” You said you created a compute group. However, Intel recently reorganized the AXG group and Koduri left the company shortly thereafter. When asked about the fate of the Custom Computing group, he said there are no organizational changes to share at this time.

Intel has yet to announce its next-generation Bitcoin mining product, and while all of its blockscale ASIC landing pages are currently inactive, its statement leaves the door open for future opportunities should they arise. Intel’s first entry into the bitcoin mining chip market comes as chips finally became available shortly after bitcoin valuations crashed at the end of the last cryptocurrency boom. It was done at the wrong time. Rising — Recently, for the first time in almost a year he topped $30,000.

Intel’s bitcoin mining chip initially made headlines with the codename Bonanza Mine used for an R&D chip that was never commercialized, but the company later announced it would enter the blockchain market, dubbed “Blockscale.” Immediately launched the 2nd generation model of the name. Choose large mining companies such as BLOCK, GRIID Infrastructure and Argo Blockchain.

Aside from performing significantly better than competing Bitcoin mining chips, Blockscale’s big value proposition stems from the stability of Intel’s chip manufacturing resources. Several large industrial mining companies have signed large, long-term contracts for a stable supply of block-scale ASICs. This avoided volatility with mostly China-based manufacturers that engaged in wild price manipulation based on Bitcoin valuations, were subject to tariffs, and struggled with supply. Not to mention the chaos and shortages and the increased cost of logistics and transportation from China.

Intel has said it will continue to serve existing Boockscale customers, implying to satisfy existing long-term contracts. Intel’s customer has until October 2023 to order the new chip, and he will finish shipping in April 2024. Meanwhile, Intel has removed almost all landing pages and product pages for Blockscale chips from his website.

Intel’s latest move is on a wave of cost cutting. The company last week sold its server-building business, ditched its network switch business, ended 5G modems, halted production of Optane memory, and abandoned its drone business. Sold SSD storage unit to SK Hynix.

Intel’s cost savings also apply to many other projects. Intel has also shelved plans for a megalab in Oregon and canceled a planned development center in Haifa. The company has also streamlined its data center graphics roadmap by slashing several programs such as the RISC-V Pathfinder program, phasing out Rialto Bridge GPUs and delaying Falcon Shores chips until 2025.