Skip to main content

Intel may be working on specialized chip for mining Bitcoin

Bitcoin mining is a controversial topic, but it seems that Intel may join the fray by releasing a chip designed specifically for that.

According to the latest rumors, Intel may be about to unveil a “Bonanza Mine” chip. The powerful chip would be used only for crypto mining and wouldn’t present any value to casual users.

A man tends to a Bitcoin mine.
OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images

Often, it’s graphics cards that are associated with mining cryptocurrency. In fact, many attribute the ongoing GPU shortage , in part, to Ethereum mining, as the cards sell out before any regular users can get their hands on them. However, the rumors suggest that Intel may be working on a specialized mining chip it refers to as Bonanza Mine.

Tom’s Hardware has suggested that Intel may be unveiling the chip during the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), which will take place in February. The conference is centered around solid-state circuits and systems on a chip (SoCs.) Intel is scheduled to deliver a presentation in the Highlighted Chip Releases category, with the purpose of showing the new Bonanza Mine processor.

The processor is described as an “ultra-low-voltage, energy-efficient Bitcoin (BTC) mining application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC),” and it seems like it may signal a new step into mining hardware for Intel. The company may be looking to compete against similar ASICs, such as those made by Bitmain, in a sector of the market that centers around Bitcoin mining.

While it may be the graphics cards that get the bad rep, Bitcoin is usually mined on ASICs: Specialized chips designed to only perform one specific task. As companies like Bitmain have proven, ASICs are able to deliver the power required for mining at a lower cost.

Intel's upcoming conference presentation.
Image source: Tom’s Hardware Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s worth noting that the cost reduction comes in the form of higher efficiency and lower power requirements of the ASICs in question. When it comes to purchasing one of them from companies like Bitmain, both the price and the delivery times are quite high. A quick glance at Bitmain’s website shows dozens of ASICs, with some priced at well over $10,000.

As Tom’s Hardware reports, Intel’s interest in Bitcoin mining is not new. The company patented a specialized SHA 256-optimized ASIC in 2018 that was aimed at mining Bitcoin. Although Intel hasn’t revealed much since then, it seems that the chip may have been in the works this whole time, and the company may be getting ready to present it.

Exclusive Intel Arc GPU Interview ft. DrLupo and Raja Koduri | Intel Gaming

The theory that Intel may be working on Bitcoin mining hardware is given more credibility by a recent interview with Raja Koduri, Intel’s Systems and Graphics architect, senior vice president, and general manager. In a conversation with streaming personality DrLupo, Koduri talked about Intel’s upcoming Arc Alchemist GPUs. He has also made mention of Intel’s plans to “share some interesting hardware” designed for more efficient blockchain validation that would come at a much lower cost.

Intel will soon release its new discrete Arc Alchemist gaming GPUs. The company has made it clear that it won’t restrict mining on these cards, but it would prefer if the cards went to gamers instead of miners. However, it’s also clear that Intel may support the idea of Bitcoin mining to the point of creating specialized hardware for it.

Compared to companies like Bitmain, Intel may have the upper hand when it comes to producing these specialized ASICs. While it’s unclear whether Bonanza Mine is being prepared as a product to be released to customers or not, Intel has the connections required to produce it in a more efficient (and perhaps cheaper) manner. If Intel’s plans for high efficiency and low power work out as intended, this could be a lucrative gem of a chip in a previously untapped market.

Editors' Recommendations

Monica J. White
Monica is a UK-based freelance writer and self-proclaimed geek. A firm believer in the "PC building is just like expensive…
Intel Arc Alchemist may let you overclock virtually for free
Intel Arc A770 graphics card.

Intel Arc Alchemist graphics cards continue to surprise us in many ways prior to their actual release. This time, a new teaser from an interview with Intel fellow Tom Petersen reveals some more information about the GPUs, including their overclocking capabilities.

According to Petersen, Intel Arc might be unexpectedly good at overclocking and striking the right balance between performance and power consumption -- so much so that a massive overclock was achieved at almost no extra energy cost.

Read more
3 reasons why I’m worried about Intel’s upcoming Meteor Lake chips
Intel Alder Lake mobility chip.

Intel recently unveiled its upcoming Meteor Lake CPU for desktops and laptops, and as a tech enthusiast, I'm really impressed. I'm also really, really worried.

Meteor Lake, or Intel 14th-gen, is still more than a year out, so it'd be silly of me to worry about performance. What I am worried about is how these chips are being developed and manufactured.
Meteor Lake uses too many different nodes and dies

Read more
Intel drops support for DirectX 9, but it may be a good thing
Intel Arc Alchemist reference design render.

Intel has now officially dropped native hardware support for DirectX 9, and this applies to both integrated Xe graphics on Alder Lake CPUs and discrete Arc Alchemist GPUs.

This doesn't mean that Intel won't offer access to DX9. Instead, DirectX 9 will be supported through DirectX 12 via emulation. Will that be sufficient for gamers?

Read more