Summary

• Hive Blockchain deploys Intel-powered mining machines, disrupting the duopoly of Bitmain and MicroBT.
• Customizable machines for more efficient mining.
• Hive's first batch of machines, called BuzzMiners, have computing power of 638-754 PH/s, but power efficiency data is not yet available.

Hive Blockchain, a leading Bitcoin mining company, has made a significant move in the industry by deploying its first set of mining machines that are powered by Intel's Blockscale chips. This marks a major departure from the norm in the mining machine market, which has been dominated by a duopoly of Bitmain and MicroBT. The use of Intel's technology not only has the potential to disrupt this duopoly but also allows mining companies like Hive to design and customize their machines to their specific requirements.

Hive's initial batch of 5,800 machines, dubbed BuzzMiners, are capable of producing a computing power range of 638 petahash/second (PH/s) to 754 PH/s, or 110 terahash/second (TH/s) to 130 TH/s per machine. While this is impressive, it should be noted that it falls slightly behind some of Bitmain's latest models such as the Antminer S19 XP or the S19 Pro+ Hydro. However, Hive has not yet released any power efficiency data for the machines, a key metric in the mining industry given the high power costs associated with the process.

Intel, on the other hand, has touted an efficiency of 26 joules/terahash (J/T) for the Blockscale chips, which was announced in April. While this may not beat Bitmain's S19 XP series, it is on par with or better than other models currently on the market.

More than 1,500 of these Intel-powered machines have already been installed across Hive's facilities in Canada and Sweden, and the company has reported that they have met their performance targets. Initially, Hive had ordered 13,000 machines to be manufactured in 2022, but due to the ongoing crypto bear market, the company decided to reduce the order and methodically scale the business.

In conclusion, Hive Blockchain's deployment of its first set of Intel-powered Bitcoin mining machines is a significant move in the industry that has the potential to disrupt the current duopoly of Bitmain and MicroBT. It also allows mining companies to design and customize their machines to their specific requirements, which could lead to more efficient and cost-effective mining operations. However, it remains to be seen how power-efficient these machines are, and how they will perform in the long-run.