Intel will discontinue its Blockscale Bitcoin mining chip line, a year after it debuted the product.

Tom's Hardware reported that, per a spokesperson with the tech giant, Intel has "end-of-lifed the Intel Blockscale 1000 Series ASIC while we continue to support our Blockscale customers.”

When asked about what the move meant for the future of Intel's Bitcoin mining chip business altogether, the spokesperson reportedly said: "We continue to monitor market opportunities." 

The Blockscale chip line was unveiled last April. Companies like Block Inc. and Argo Blockchain were among Intel's initial customers. 

Yet Intel's interest in bitcoin mining stretches back years, and despite the end of this specific product, Intel could in theory revive it in the future. In 2015, CoinDesk reported that Intel appeared to be providing mining chip technology to 21 Inc., a Bitcoin technology startup. Intel scored a U.S. patent for an energy-efficient cryptocurrency mining method in 2018.

(by Michael McSweeney)