061 Open Source Is Inevitable in Bitcoin Mining w/ Skot

Recorded live at the Africa Bitcoin Conference in Mauritius, Jesse sits down with Skot, the instigator of the Bitaxe project, to discuss why open source could become the most important frontier in Bitcoin mining.

The conversation explores both the philosophy and the practical realities of open-source mining hardware and firmware. Skot explains how Bitaxe began as a personal side project, why he chose to open-source the entire stack, and how it unexpectedly evolved into a global ecosystem with manufacturers, builders, and tens of thousands of devices in the wild.

They talk about why large miners increasingly want full firmware control, how proprietary firmware creates hidden operational risks, and why open source aligns more naturally with Bitcoin’s incentive structure. The episode also touches on solar and off-grid mining in Africa, second-life ASICs, home mining, competition among miner manufacturers, and how Bitmain’s dominance shapes the industry.

This episode is for anyone interested in Bitcoin mining, open-source hardware, firmware sovereignty, and the long-term resilience of the Bitcoin network.

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