2025-02-22 –, Event Room
MOD: Rob Warren
This panel explores the cutting edge of ASIC chip development for Bitcoin mining and its impact on heat reuse technology. Designing an efficient ASIC is a massive undertaking, requiring deep expertise and resources, which is why manufacturing has remained concentrated among a few players. But what if system builders had direct access to ASIC chips? Could this unlock purpose-built heating systems instead of retrofitting industrial miners? We’ll discuss why current ASIC manufacturers also build entire mining systems—chassis, fans, power supplies, and control boards—and whether they will continue down this path or eventually offer chips and supporting documentation for decentralized system development. Will ASIC manufacturers recognize the opportunity in heat reuse, or will independent innovators need to push the frontier forward?
Robert Warren is a researcher, educator, and author of the Bitcoin Miner’s Almanac. He has published broadly on Bitcoin, particularly within Bitcoin mining, having started writing early guides on home mining deployments and heat use. His professional work has included, sales operations at Upstream Data, co-founding the privacy oriented hosting company Distributed Hash, running projects and operational analysis at megaminer Riot Platforms, and now leading research and educational initiatives at Bitcoin Park.
Bob Burnett is the founder and CEO of Barefoot Mining, a company dedicated to developing “horse-class” Bitcoin mining sites and expanding diversity in mining geography, scale, and energy sources. With over 35 years in technology, Bob previously spent 13 years at Gateway, Inc., a Fortune 200 personal computer company, where he led product development as Chief Technical Officer. His deep expertise in hardware engineering, infrastructure, and energy integration has led him to found multiple Bitcoin mining ventures, advocating for decentralized, sustainable, and scalable mining solutions. As a passionate Bitcoin evangelist and educator, Bob is committed to advancing Bitcoin’s role in monetary freedom and energy innovation.
Christopher Crowell is the Senior Director of Business Development and Sales at Canaan Inc., the leading NASDAQ-listed Bitcoin ASIC miner manufacturer. He focuses on expanding Canaan's presence in North America, launching Avalon miners like the A13, A14, and A15, while promoting sustainable Bitcoin mining solutions. A long-time Bitcoin advocate since Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper, Christopher combines his finance, legal, and Mandarin Chinese expertise to drive growth and innovation in the mining industry. Christopher Crowell is also a third generation Floridian, dedicated father, and a collector of rare coins.
Zubair Ahmad is a cross-functional product manager with 20+ years of experience across silicon, systems, software, and product management. He’s worked on mobile, compute, and automotive system design, as well as product marketing—now bringing that expertise to bitcoin mining. Previously at AMD and Qualcomm, Zubair is known for his sharp product instincts and ability to drive innovation. He holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of New Orleans and an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.