Block’s Proto Rig and Proto Fleet aim to reduce upgrade costs and extend rig lifespans, giving miners a potential edge in a capital-intensive, increasingly AI-integrated industry.
Bitcoin-focused fintech company Block Inc. has introduced a new cryptocurrency mining system designed to extend the lifespan of mining rigs and lower operational costs — a potential boost for miners facing steep capital expenditures to maintain facilities.
At the center of the launch is Proto Rig, a modular system that replaces the traditional three-to-five-year mining rig life cycle with hardware built to last a decade or more, Block announced Thursday.
Instead of discarding entire units, miners can swap out individual hashboards as technology improves, potentially cutting upgrade costs by up to 20% per cycle.
