Payments company Block, formerly known as Square, is delving deeper into the crypto mining industry with potential plans to build a “mining development kit.”
A blog post March 7 revealed that the Jack Dorsey-founded multinational technology company is mulling the latest vision to advance Bitcoin (BTC) mining ambitions. Senior product lead for mining hardware, Naoise Irwin, asked for feedback on the concept via email.
The mining development kit (MDK), if passed, will provide developers with a “tool set” with the goal of increasing the “accessibility and openness” of Bitcoin mining.
Block noted that the kit will deliver several components including “industry-grade Bitcoin mining “hashboard” designed to be compatible with the company’s custom-built control board and third-party controllers such as Raspberry Pi.
In addition, there will be a controller board specially designed to work with the “hashboard”.
The company asked what features users would like to see in the proposed hardware such as power requirements, required connections, and how much it would cost.
We are looking at launching a mining development kit (MDK) to help unlock innovation #bitcoin mining. We will be happy to help and welcome you to collaborate and participate with us! Please provide feedback here, or at mining@blocks.xyz. More details here: https://t.co/I6DuyZZ9A2
— Naoise Irwin (@naoise) March 7, 2023
There’s also open-source firmware, software APIs and a web frontend, “allowing developers to modify key performance parameters on the hash board,” he said.
Block requests additional advice on software, reference materials, and support documentation.
“The goal behind MDK is to provide developers with the tools to help unlock creativity and innovation in Bitcoin mining hardware.”
The plan mimics the Bitcoin Developer Kit and Lightning Developer Kit projects developed by Block subsidized Spiral.
related: Block is still looking for a wallet partner almost two years later
In October 2021, Dorsey announced plans for an open-source Bitcoin mining system for businesses and individuals. The plan was confirmed in January 2022 and construction began.
Irwin stated that since then, “we have built a team to explore our mining hardware strategy, and have begun the long process of developing our own Bitcoin mining semiconductor chip (ASIC),”
He ended the blog post by stating that further updates on the mining hardware program will be coming in the coming weeks and months.