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Payments company Block, formerly known as Square, is delving deeper into the crypto mining industry with potential plans to build a \u201cmining development kit.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Mar. 7 blog post<\/a> revealed that the Jack Dorsey<\/a>-founded multinational technology firm was mulling its latest vision for advancing its Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>) mining ambitions. Senior product lead for mining hardware, Naoise Irwin, asked for feedback on the concept via email.<\/p>\n The mining development kit (MDK), if it goes ahead, will provide a \u201csuite of tools\u201d to developers with the aim of increasing the \u201caccessibility and openness\u201d of Bitcoin mining<\/a>.<\/p>\n Block noted the kit would deliver several components including an \u201cindustrial-grade Bitcoin mining \u201chashboard\u201d designed to be compatible with the firm\u2019s custom-built control board and third-party controllers such as Raspberry Pi.<\/p>\n Additionally, there will be a custom-designed controller board designed to work with the \u201chashboard\u201d.<\/p>\n The firm asked what features users want to see on the proposed hardware such as power requirements, required connections, and how much it should cost. <\/p>\n We are looking at launching a mining development kit (MDK) to help unlock innovation in\u00a0#bitcoin<\/a>\u00a0mining. We\u2019d love your help and welcome you to collaborate and engage with us! Please provide feedback here, or at mining@blocks.xyz. More details here:\u00a0https:\/\/t.co\/I6DuyZZ9A2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Naoise Irwin (@naoise) March 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There will also be open-source firmware, a software API and a web front-end, \u201callowing developers to modify the key performance parameters of the hashboard,\u201d it stated.<\/p>\n Block asked for additional feedback on the software, reference material, and support documentation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe intention behind the MDK is to provide developers with a suite of tools to help unlock creativity and innovation in Bitcoin mining hardware.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The plan replicates the Bitcoin Developer Kit and Lightning Developer Kit projects developed by Block subsidy Spiral. <\/p>\n Related:<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Block remains on the hunt for wallet partners nearly two years later<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In October 2021, Dorsey announced plans<\/a> for an open-source Bitcoin mining system for businesses and individuals. Those plans were confirmed in January 2022 and development commenced<\/a>.<\/p>\n Irwin stated that since then, \u201cwe have been heads down building a team to explore our mining hardware strategy, and have kicked off the long process of developing our own Bitcoin mining semiconductor chips (ASICs),\u201d<\/p>\n He ended the blog post by stating further updates on the mining hardware program will be coming in the following weeks and months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n