Block’s Proto Rig Extends Miner Lifespan to 10 Years
Block Inc. has launched Proto Rig, a modular Bitcoin mining platform designed to extend hardware lifespan from 3–5 years to over 10 years. It features tool-free hot-swapping of nine hashboards, delivering up to 819 TH/s at 14.1 J/TH and boosting rack power density by 1.5×. By allowing individual board replacements, Proto Rig cuts upgrade costs by up to 20% and reduces downtime. Alongside Proto Rig, Block introduced Proto Fleet, an open-source fleet management tool offering real-time monitoring, diagnostics and maintenance.
Prototype units debuted at Core Scientific’s Georgia facility following Block’s April rollout of a 3 nm mining chip and supply pact with Core Scientific. Industry leaders, including Komodo Platform’s CTO, have praised its alignment with Bitcoin’s decentralization. These innovations arrive amid US trade tensions and import tariffs, promising enhanced efficiency, sustainability and miner profitability while lowering access barriers.
Bullish
Improvements in mining hardware efficiency and lifespan reduce operational costs and downtime, supporting miner profitability and potentially decreasing sell pressure on Bitcoin. The open-source, modular design aligns with decentralization, encouraging broader participation. While short-term price impact may be limited, the long-term effect is bullish as miners gain cost advantages and network resilience is strengthened.