The Next Big Chip: What Plebsource is Watching in ASIC Innovation
Bitcoin mining is a battleground—a clash between industrial giants and the pleb movement fighting to keep the network decentralized. At Plebsource.com, we’re arming hobbyists with the Bitaxe, an open-source miner that brings mining back to the people. But the heart of any miner is its ASIC chip, and right now, the industry’s at a crossroads. The Bitaxe Gamma’s BM1370 chip, painstakingly salvaged from Bitmain’s S21 Pro, delivers 1.2 terahashes per second (TH/s) at 15-18 joules per terahash (J/TH)—solid, but pricey at $30-$50 per chip. Industrial miners, with their $15-$25 per terahash rigs, have the edge in cost and scale. To level the playing field, Plebsource is laser-focused on the next big chip. From Intel’s BZM2 to Auradine’s game-changing designs, ASIC innovation could slash costs, boost power, and supercharge the pleb revolution. Here’s what we’re watching—and how it could redefine Bitcoin mining for the anarcho-capitalist pleb.
The ASIC Landscape: A Centralized Stranglehold
Let’s set the stage. Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are the backbone of Bitcoin mining, designed to hash SHA-256 at blistering speeds. Since 2013, ASICs have dominated, evolving from gigahashes to terahashes. Bitmain’s S21 Pro (2023) cranks out 200 TH/s at 15 J/TH, while MicroBT’s M60 (2024) hits 300 TH/s at 7 J/TH. These rigs, costing $3,000-$5,000, give industrial miners a cost per terahash of $15-$25—unbeatable for scale. But there’s a catch: the ASIC market is a walled garden. Bitmain, MicroBT, and Canaan control 90% of production, per a 2024 CoinShares report. They don’t sell chips standalone, forcing innovators like Plebsource to extract BM1370s from S21s—a manual, costly process ($30-$50 per chip).
This centralization isn’t just a supply chain issue; it’s a threat to Bitcoin’s ethos. Industrial miners, with their cheap ASICs and megafarms, control 80% of the 600 exahashes per second (EH/s) hashrate, per CoinMetrics 2024 data. Five pools mine 75% of blocks, raising 51% attack risks. Plebsource’s mission is to decentralize hashrate, but the BM1370’s price tag limits scale. A million Bitaxes at 1.2 TH/s would add 1.2 EH/s—2% of the network—but at $150-$275 each, adoption lags. The next big chip could change that, and Plebsource is all eyes.
Intel’s BZM2: The Free Chip Revolution
First up: Intel’s BZM2 chip, a wildcard that’s got the pleb community buzzing. Intel entered the Bitcoin mining space in 2022 with its Blockscale ASICs, targeting enterprise players. But in 2023, they pivoted, offering BZM2 samples for free to developers and enthusiasts—a move that aligns with Plebsource’s open-source ethos. Skot (
@skot9000
on X), the Bitaxe’s creator, is already designing a BZM2-powered model, and we’re watching closely.
The BZM2 isn’t a performance king—0.8-1 TH/s at 20-25 J/TH, lagging the BM1370’s 1.2 TH/s at 15 J/TH. But free is free. A Bitaxe with a BZM2 could cost $50-$75 to build (chip: $0, other parts: $50-$75), or $50-$75/TH—half the Gamma’s $125-$229/TH. Retail at $100-$125, and we’re at $100-$125/TH—still above industrial, but a huge leap. Scale it up: a “Bitaxe Multi” with 5 BZM2s could hit 4-5 TH/s for $125-$150, or $25-$37/TH. That’s game-changing for plebs.
The trade-off? Efficiency. At 20-25 J/TH, the BZM2 uses 20-25W per chip—more than the BM1370’s 15-18W. At $0.10/kWh, that’s $1.80/month vs. $1.30 for a Gamma. But for solo miners chasing the “lottery” (3.125 BTC, $280,000), hashrate matters more than efficiency. A 2024 Bitaxe solo win proved it—$280,000 from a single block. A million BZM2 Bitaxes would add 1 EH/s, use 20 MW (vs. 50 MW for an industrial farm), and cost a fraction of the price. Intel’s free chips could flood the network with pleb rigs, and Plebsource is ready to ship them.
Auradine: Disrupting the ASIC Monopoly
Next on our radar: Auradine, a Silicon Valley startup shaking up the ASIC game. Founded in 2022, Auradine focuses on sustainable, accessible mining hardware. Their Teraflux series (2024) targets industrial players—200 TH/s at 10 J/TH—but they’re also collaborating with companies like Futurebit.com to bring chips to the masses. Futurebit’s Apollo miners already cater to hobbyists, and their partnership with Auradine aims to produce BM1370-grade chips (1.2 TH/s, 15 J/TH) for $15-$20 each—no manual extraction required.
This is huge. The BM1370’s $30-$50 cost stems from salvaging S21 hashboards (65 chips per board, $500-$1,000 each). Auradine’s open-market chips could slash that to $15-$20. A Bitaxe Gamma with an Auradine chip would cost $50-$75 to build (chip: $15-$20, parts: $35-$55), or $41-$62/TH. Retail at $100-$125, and we’re at $83-$104/TH—nearing our $50/TH goal. A Multi with 5 chips could hit 6 TH/s for $125-$150, or $20-$25/TH—industrial territory.
Auradine’s chips also promise efficiency—10-12 J/TH, better than the BM1370’s 15 J/TH. That’s 12-15W per chip, or $1/month at $0.10/kWh. Plus, they’re more powerful—1.5 TH/s per chip is on the horizon, per a 2024 X post from
@futurebit_io
. A Bitaxe with 1.5 TH/s for $100 would be $66/TH—revolutionary for plebs. Auradine’s mission to “democratize mining” aligns with Plebsource’s ethos, and we’re eager to integrate their chips.
Beyond BZM2 and Auradine: What’s Next?
The ASIC space is heating up, and Plebsource is tracking other players. Bitmain and MicroBT aren’t standing still—their S21 Hydro (2024) hits 5 J/TH, but they’re still proprietary. New entrants like Block (Jack Dorsey’s venture) are exploring modular ASICs for small-scale miners. A 2024 Block whitepaper hinted at 1 TH/s chips at 10 J/TH for $10 each—perfect for a Bitaxe. If they deliver, we could see $50 Bitaxes at $50/TH by 2026.
There’s also the DIY angle. The Bitaxe community on GitHub is experimenting with FPGA-based “soft ASICs”—not as efficient (30 J/TH), but cheap ($5-$10) and programmable. A 2023 X thread from
@bitaxe_dev
showed a prototype hitting 500 GH/s for $20. It’s a long shot, but pleb ingenuity could yield surprises.
Plebsource’s R&D: Building the Future
We’re not just watching—we’re building. Plebsource engineers are testing BZM2 prototypes, optimizing AxeOS for Auradine chips, and designing denser Bitaxes. Our “Bitaxe Multi” concept—5 chips, 6-7.5 TH/s, $150-$200—could hit $20-$33/TH with Auradine chips. We’re also exploring cooling solutions (liquid cooling for 1.6 TH/s overclocks) and power efficiency (undervolting BZM2s to 18 J/TH). Community feedback from X and Discord drives us—plebs suggest fan mods, firmware tweaks, even 3D-printed enclosures. We’re all in on the next big chip.
The Impact: A Decentralized Dream
Why does this matter? Cost and power dictate adoption. A million Bitaxes at $50/TH (BZM2) or $20/TH (Auradine) could add 1-1.5 EH/s—2% of the network—using 20 MW vs. 50 MW for an industrial farm. A 2023 CoinMetrics study said 10% pleb hashrate cuts 51% attack risks by 30%. More rigs, more dispersion, more resilience. Industrial miners centralize; plebs decentralize.
Efficiency matters too. Auradine’s 10 J/TH chips save $0.50/month per rig over the BM1370—$500,000 yearly for a million units. That’s more plebs mining, more hashrate secured. Solo wins (like 2024’s $280,000 block) and pool payouts rise with better chips. The next big chip isn’t just tech—it’s freedom.
Challenges and Trade-Offs
It’s not all smooth sailing. BZM2’s 20-25 J/TH lags industrial 7-10 J/TH—higher power costs hurt in high-rate regions ($0.20/kWh). Auradine’s chips aren’t here yet—supply chain delays could push 2026. And Bitmain won’t sit idle; their next-gen ASICs might hit 3 J/TH, widening the efficiency gap. But Plebsource isn’t chasing efficiency alone—we’re chasing access. A $50 Bitaxe at 20 J/TH beats a $5,000 S21 at 5 J/TH if it’s in a million hands.
The Future: Plebs Powered by Innovation
Imagine 2030: Bitcoin at $200,000, hashrate at 1,000 EH/s. Plebs hold 15%—150 PH/s—thanks to $50 Bitaxes with Auradine chips. Solo wins pile up, and the network’s unshakeable. The next big chip isn’t a maybe—it’s a must. At Plebsource.com, we’re ready to make it happen, one rig at a time. The empire’s got the scale, but we’ve got the spirit. Join us—let’s mine the future.