Could open-source mining further decentralize bitcoin? with Skot instigator of Bitaxe

In this episode, we sit down with Skot, electrical engineer and creator of Bitaxe, the first open-source ASIC bitcoin miner. Skot shares his journey from IoT hardware development to designing hardware for bitcoin mining, including his early experiments with FPGAs in a university lab. We discuss the significance of open-source mining for bitcoin’s future, the challenges of hardware and firmware development, and how Bitaxe compares to industry giants like Bitmain. Skot explains the potential for decentralized mining, the risks of centralization in mining hardware and pools, and why making mining accessible and transparent is critical. We also touch on the concept of incorporating miners into household devices and the role of small-scale miners in bitcoin’s long-term resilience.SUPPORT THE PODCAST:→ Subscribe→ Leave a review→ Share the show with your friends and family→ Send us an email [email protected]→ Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description→ Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description→ Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontierTIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro01:16 - Meet Skot, the mind behind Bitaxe02:34 - From IoT projects to bitcoin mining innovation05:20 - Skot’s bitcoin origin story and the PayPal saga09:35 - Mining bitcoin with university lab FPGAs12:11 - Why Skot started the first open-source ASIC miner14:55 - The challenges of open-source bitcoin mining hardware19:59 - Bitaxe vs. Bitmain: efficiency showdown21:25 - Who’s building Bitaxes and why?25:01 - The importance of open-source mining for bitcoin’s future28:26 - Can Bitaxe become a significant part of bitcoin’s hash rate?33:39 - The dream of decentralized mining in household devices41:02 - The future of bitcoin mining: big grids vs. home miners47:06 - Skot’s take on mining centralization risks53:37 - How open-source mining could save bitcoinWHERE TO FOLLOW US:→ Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom→ Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital→ Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD→ Skot on Twitter: https://x.com/skot9000