Block Inc. Unveils Proto Rig, Aiming for 20% Reduction in Bitcoin Mining Upgrade Costs

DALTON, GA – Block Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) has launched its new Bitcoin mining system, Proto Rig, and an accompanying open-source fleet management software, Proto Fleet, on August 14, 2025. This introduction marks a significant shift in Bitcoin mining hardware, emphasizing durability, repairability, and upgradability to extend the lifespan of mining rigs and lower operational expenditures for miners.

The Proto Rig is designed as a modular system, allowing miners to replace individual hashboards as technology advances, rather than discarding entire units. This innovation is projected to cut upgrade costs by 15% to 20% per cycle, transforming a typical three-to-five-year hardware lifecycle into a potential decade-long infrastructure investment. Thomas Templeton, Hardware Lead at Block, highlighted that the new system also offers 1.5 times the power per linear foot compared to traditional hardware, optimizing space and power utilization.

Alongside the hardware, Proto Fleet provides a comprehensive, free, and open-source platform for managing large-scale mining operations. This software aims to streamline power scaling, monitoring, diagnostics, and maintenance, addressing long-standing challenges in operational efficiency within the mining sector. The open-source nature is intended to foster decentralization and broader access to advanced mining tools.

The announcement has garnered strong reactions within the cryptocurrency community. According to a tweet from "Entropy Capital," > "Proto is good. Really, really good. Reliable, upgradable, and repairable. $XYZ will eat the entire $btc mining market." This sentiment reflects the potential impact of Block's modular and long-lasting design on an industry historically plagued by rapid hardware obsolescence and high capital expenditure.

Block's venture into mining hardware, following its development of a 3-nanometer Bitcoin mining chip in April 2024, underscores its commitment to decentralizing Bitcoin mining and increasing network resiliency. The company aims to provide accessible tools for miners of all sizes, contributing to a more robust and efficient global Bitcoin network.