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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Yes—Intel launched a real cryptocurrency-mining ASIC in 2022. It was called the Intel Blockscale ASIC, not Bonanza Mine, and it was designed for SHA-256 proof-of-work mining such as Bitcoin. Intel’s widely repeated “more than 1,000×” claim referred to expected performance per watt versus mainstream GPUs, not 1,000× the raw speed of leading Bitcoin miners. Blockscale shipped to industrial customers, then Intel end-of-lifed the product family in 2023.
What Intel actually launched
On April 4, 2022, Intel announced the Blockscale ASIC, a dedicated accelerator for energy-efficient hashing on proof-of-work networks. Intel named Argo Blockchain, Block Inc., Hive Blockchain Technologies and GRIID Infrastructure as early customers and said customer shipments would begin in the third quarter of 2022. Intel’s announcement describes the device as a SHA-256 hardware accelerator.
Bonanza Mine was the earlier codename for Intel’s development and research effort. Blockscale ASIC was the commercial product, later referred to as the Blockscale 1000 Series. This was Intel’s first publicly commercialized cryptocurrency-mining ASIC—not Intel’s first chip capable of cryptographic work. Intel’s CPUs already offered general cryptographic acceleration, a separate use case from Bitcoin mining.
What “1,000× more efficient” meant
The phrase came from Intel’s earlier description of its blockchain accelerator work and was reproduced in contemporary coverage. The cited wording concerned expected performance per watt for SHA-256-based mining compared with mainstream GPUs.
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- Performance per watt: hashes produced for each unit of electricity, not total speed.
- Workload: SHA-256, the algorithm used by Bitcoin and some related networks.
- Baseline: general-purpose mainstream GPUs, not necessarily specialized Bitcoin ASICs.
- Status: an Intel design or expectation claim, not an independently verified universal benchmark.
A GPU can be flexible and useful for gaming, rendering or other algorithms, but it is a poor tool for Bitcoin’s fixed SHA-256 workload. A purpose-built ASIC can therefore look dramatically better against a GPU without being 1,000× better than Bitmain, MicroBT or another specialized mining ASIC.
Blockscale’s published specifications
Intel published different figures in separate documents. They should not be merged into one supposedly identical test configuration.
| Specification | April 2022 launch announcement | Later Intel product brief | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hashrate | Up to 580 GH/s | Up to 593 GH/s | Chip-level or operating-point figure |
| Efficiency | Up to 26 J/TH | At least 27 J/TH | Different documents use different wording |
| Power | Not stated in launch summary | 4.8–22.7 W | Depends on operating configuration |
| Algorithm | SHA-256 | SHA-256 | Not a universal cryptocurrency processor |
| Chaining | Not stated in launch summary | Up to 256 integrated circuits per chain | For system designers scaling multiple chips |
| Package | Not emphasized | 7.5 × 7 mm flip-chip LGA | Product-brief specification |
| Sensors | Not stated | Temperature and voltage | On-chip monitoring |
Sources: Intel’s launch announcement and Intel’s product brief.
Rank #2
- 4-6TH/s HASHRATE WITH 60-100W POWER DRAW: Powered by 4 BM1370 ASIC chips, this Bitcoin miner delivers a rated hashrate of 4-6TH/s while consuming 60-100W. Its 0.016 J/GH efficiency supports continuous SHA-256 mining with lower power requirements than larger industrial mining machines.
- 2.4GHz WIFI AND WEB MANAGEMENT: Connect the crypto miner to a 2.4GHz WiFi network and configure the mining pool, wallet address, frequency, and other operating settings through a browser-based interface. The device does not support 5GHz WiFi and requires no command-line setup.
- 2.8-INCH REAL-TIME LCD DISPLAY: The full-color TFT screen displays hashrate, chip temperature, fan status, network connection, and operating information in real time. Key mining data can be checked directly on the device without opening an additional monitoring application.
- OPEN-SOURCE SHA-256 MINING SYSTEM: The open-source firmware supports web-based configuration and OTA firmware updates. Designed for SHA-256 mining, the machine is compatible with Bitcoin BTC, Bitcoin Cash BCH, Bitcoin SV BSV, and other supported SHA-256 cryptocurrencies.
- DUAL-FAN COOLING AND COMPLETE KIT: The heatsink and dual-fan cooling system help regulate ASIC temperatures during continuous operation. The compact 530 g desktop design is suitable for home, office, laboratory, and educational use. Includes 1 miner, 1 12V 10A US power supply, and 1 user manual.
For scale, 580–593 GH/s equals approximately 0.58–0.593 TH/s. A theoretical 200-TH/s machine would need roughly 337–345 chips at that rate before accounting for clocking, losses and system overhead. That is a mathematical comparison, not evidence that Intel sold a particular 340-chip appliance.
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Why chip specifications are not mining-rig specifications
A usable miner needs much more than the ASIC: hashboards, a controller, firmware, power supplies, cooling, networking and an enclosure. Intel’s engineering account says its team built boards capable of combining as many as 100 chips, with a controller and software stack. Intel’s account also described high-volume shipping plans.
Consequently, a quoted chip-level J/TH figure is not the same as a finished machine’s wall-plug efficiency. Fans, pumps, power conversion, control electronics and networking add consumption.
Rank #3
- . DESIGN -This mining power supply can be a perfect tool for your Cryptocurrency mining rig. DC circuit design, with stable voltage output， AC Input Design - Stable enough for 110-220V voltage input available，Active PFC - Enhances power output efficiency and increases the performance and stability of your system，-Quality Components - quality components enable non-stop usage with stable and reliable performance, no more capacitor explosion and leakage.
- . The wire has a copper core that is resistant to temperatures and more durable than other types of copper core wire，Long-Lasting Fan -Cooling Fan and Auto Fan Speed Control. 14cm Large fan design for optimal system cooling and maximizing performance， temperatures protection -If the temperature increases over 50 degrees , the power supply will engage temperature protection to avoid damage to the power supply as a result of the excessive heat from occurring.
- .COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION - Current/Voltage/Power/Temperature Protection, Under Voltage Protection, and Short Circuit Protection provide maximum safety to your critical system components.
- .STABLE AND EFFICIENT -Double Ball Bearings are the industry standard for any power supply expected to carry heavy loads on a regular basis due to their durability and low noise level. Compatible with quality, efficiency and stability balance, pursuing continuous real power output.
- .ENERGY SAVING -The power supply rated output power 2000W/2400W/2600W, With up to 95% conversion efficiency, efficiency and energy saving, Using a new large-capacity large magnetic ring material, the performance is very stable, Widely used in variety of mines and -power single 12V industrial equipment，2000W Modular Mining Power Supply PSU for 8 GPU ETH Rig Ethereum Miner80 Plus Platinum Certified - Deliver up to 95% efficiency and reduce operating cost.
What Blockscale could—and could not—mine
Blockscale targeted SHA-256 proof-of-work. That includes Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV and other networks using the same algorithm. It was not a practical accelerator for every cryptocurrency. SHA-256 support does not mean it could mine Ethereum, Monero, Litecoin or Kaspa, which use different algorithms or consensus systems.
Was it really Intel’s first crypto chip?
The careful answer is “Intel’s first publicly commercialized cryptocurrency-mining ASIC.” Bonanza Mine preceded it as a development name, while Intel’s ordinary processors had long performed cryptographic operations. Those facts do not make a Xeon cryptographic accelerator a Bitcoin-mining ASIC. Intel discusses “Intel Crypto Acceleration” separately in its filings. Intel’s 2022 filing distinguishes those activities.
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Did Blockscale actually arrive in 2022?
- April 4, 2022: Intel announced Blockscale and planned Q3 customer shipments.
- Q3 2022: Intel reported that customer shipments began.
- 2022 annual filing: Intel confirmed it had begun shipping the first Blockscale ASIC. Read the filing.
- September 2022: Intel’s engineering account described high-volume shipping and cited expectations for millions of units that year.
“Arrived” therefore means commercial shipments to selected business customers, not broad retail availability for consumers.
Rank #4
- The Bitaxe Miner 4.8Th/s miner is an ASIC miner designed for SHA-256 algorithm, specifically targeting BTC.
- The bitcoins miner Solo Miner boasts a user-friendly interface , making it suitable for home use. Dive into the world of crypto mining with this reliable and powerful miner.
- The asic miner comes with a built-in WiFi module,can connect you 2.4GHz wifi or hotspot.
- Easy to use and have a chance to win BTC with low power consumption.
- One unit 4.8T equals 4 units Gamma 601 1.2T save more space and power consumption.
How it compared with GPUs and established ASIC miners
| GPU | Bitcoin ASIC | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Programmable and reusable for many workloads | Purpose-built for one algorithm |
| SHA-256 efficiency | Generally poor | Much higher |
| Alternative uses | Gaming, rendering, AI and workstation tasks | Little useful work outside the target algorithm |
| Operational needs | Usually easier for hobbyists | High power, heat, noise and cooling demands |
| Economic risk | Some resale value outside mining | More exposed to difficulty, coin price and obsolescence |
Before Intel entered, specialized ASICs were already the Bitcoin-mining standard. A fair comparison therefore requires matching full-machine J/TH, hashrate, power draw, cooling, price, delivery, support and uptime. The 1,000× GPU comparison does not establish that Blockscale led every competing ASIC.
What happened to Blockscale?
In April 2023, Intel end-of-lifed the Blockscale 1000 Series while continuing support for existing customers. Reporting said final orders could be placed until October 2023 and remaining shipments would end in April 2024; Intel announced no successor generation in that coverage. Tom’s Hardware reported Intel’s statement that investment was being prioritized for its IDM 2.0 strategy.
Bitcoin’s 2022 downturn, fast ASIC efficiency gains, manufacturing scale and Intel’s broader cost and portfolio decisions are reasonable industry context, but the cited announcement does not identify one of them as the sole cause.
Best Value
- Intel Core i3-12100F Desktop Processor 4 (4P-0E) Cores Up to 4.3 GHz Turbo Frequency LGA1700 600 Series Chipset 58W Processor Base Power
Should you buy an Intel Blockscale miner?
No—not as a normal current purchase. Blockscale is discontinued and was aimed at mining companies and system builders, not as a desktop expansion card. Any second-hand unit would require verification of the complete board design, controller, firmware, power delivery, cooling, warranty and parts availability.
- Calculate full-machine J/TH, not just the chip figure.
- Check your electricity rate, circuit capacity, heat removal and noise tolerance.
- Include pool fees, downtime, repairs, taxes, shipping and depreciation.
- Remember that network difficulty and Bitcoin price can change faster than hardware payback.
- Treat hosted-mining or cloud-mining contracts as separate counterparty and custody risks.
Better efficiency does not automatically reduce Bitcoin’s total electricity use: cheaper hashing can encourage deployment of more machines across the network.
The accurate verdict
Intel’s 2022 announcement was genuine: Blockscale was a dedicated Bitcoin-relevant ASIC, and Intel did ship it. The “more than 1,000×” statement was a narrowly scoped performance-per-watt comparison with mainstream GPUs for SHA-256 mining. It was not a claim of 1,000× the raw speed of leading ASIC miners, not a universal crypto advantage and not a current Intel product recommendation. The line was discontinued in 2023.
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