Intel Blockscale ASIC is expected to help bitcoin mining firms achieve sustainability and hash rate scaling objectives in the future
The new Intel Blockscale ASIC technology will be shipped to customers from Q3 2022. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
Intel has launched the new Intel Blockscale application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology designed to provide energy-efficient blockchain hashing to customers for proof-of-work consensus networks.
According to Intel, the Intel Blockscale ASIC chip will address the energy efficiency and computing power required by proof-of-work algorithms that are compatible with ASIC-based systems and SHA-256 hashing to achieve scalability as well as sustainability.
The company stated that due to the nature of the silicon powering the technology, it will be able to supply it in volume without any compromise on the new central processing units (CPUs) or graphic processing units (GPUs) supplied.
Intel plans to begin shipping Intel Blockscale ASIC to customers in Q3 2022.
Some of the first companies to build new systems based on ASIC technology include Argo Blockchain, Block, GRIID Infrastructure, and Hive Blockchain Technologies.
Intel accelerated computing systems and graphics group blockchain and business solutions general manager Jose Rios said: “Intel is committed to advancing blockchain technology in a responsible way, and we’re proud to collaborate with and provide solutions to companies that are creating a more sustainable cryptocurrency ecosystem globally.
“The Intel Blockscale ASIC is going to play a major role in helping bitcoin mining companies achieve both sustainability and hash rate scaling objectives in the years ahead.”
Some of the main features of the new technology are a dedicated Secure Hash Algorithm-256 (SHA-256) ASIC processor and a hash rate operating speed of up to 580GH/s and power efficiency of 26J/TH.
Intel Blockscale ASIC is said to support up to 256 integrated circuits per chain and it comes with on-chip temperature- and voltage-sensing capabilities.
Intel vice president and accelerated computing systems and graphics group custom compute general manager Balaji Kanigicherla said: “To power this new era of computing, Intel is delivering solutions that can offer an optimal balance of hashing throughput and energy efficiency regardless of a customer’s operating environment.
“Intel’s decades of R&D in cryptography, hashing techniques and ultra-low voltage circuits make it possible for blockchain applications to scale their computing power without compromising on sustainability.”
Recently, Intel signed a deal to acquire Granulate Cloud Solutions, an Israel-based company that develops real-time continuous optimisation software.