Scott Liang pointed out that Bitcoin mining must also be open source.
The open source allows anyone to review software, avoiding a control center.
In a conference published on X on May 20, Scott Liang, known in that social network as Skot9000shared a reflection that deeply resonates in Bitcoiner philosophy: «Bitcoin is a combination of fantastic ideas, such as work test (Pow), finite supply and blockchain, but something I think is not spoken enough is that Bitcoin is open source (Open Source).
Liang, a developer and educator in the field of Bitcoin mining (BTC), is the creator of the first Bitaxe, a pioneer Bitcoin Mini Asic in being completely open source. Scott seeks to democratize access to mining and also highlight the relevance of Open Source in the preservation of Bitcoin decentralization.
The essence of Open Source in Bitcoin
Scott Liang highlighted that the open source is a fundamental pillar for Bitcoin: “It is so essential that Satoshi’s first announcement about Bitcoin was: ‘I have developed a new open source P2P system called Bitcoin’. It is very unlikely that we were all here if Satoshi had chosen a different license for Bitcoin, as a totally private”.
He Open Source allows anyone to access, review, modify and correct the software, a principle that It promotes a more decentralized ecosystem. In Bitcoin’s context, this means that there is no single control center that dictates how the network works. Anyone, from an experienced developer to an enthusiastic rookie, can contribute to the code, ensuring that the network remains resistant to centralization.
As Liang points out, «the open source is the only decentralized method to develop a decentralized network as Bitcoin. It is your only real option ».
Scott’s ideas pondered how open source is not only a technical characteristic, but also A paradigm that permeates Bitcoin’s ecosystem. It allows technology to be transparent and accessible, inviting global participation and preventing a single actor from dominating development. Thus, Bitcoin benefits from a diversity of perspectives that enrich their evolution.
Unlike Bitcoin, as Cryptonoticia explained, and although other cryptocurrency networks are also open source, such as Ethereum (ETH), the latter has a more centralized development in people and organizations that They direct the walk of that ecosystem (Vitalik Butein and the Ethereum Foundation, among others). Similarly, it could be noted that something similar occurs in the solana chains (Sun) with the Solana Foundation or in XRP (XRP) with Ripple.
Bitcoin mining and the challenge of being an open source industry
Liang also underlines the importance of Open Source In Bitcoin mining, stating that “it is also very important that Bitcoin mining is open source so that it can remain decentralized.”
In that sense, last May 17, Liang He lashed out Against what he considers a problem caused by great entities and his hegemonies in the mining market, in particular Bitmain, the main ASIC manufacturer: «Bitmain is obsessed with limiting the freedom of Bitcoin miners. They have captured More than 80% of the market. If we do well, it won’t be so forever ».
Although that statement might seem contradictory, since the Bitaxe created by Liang They use Bitmain chips, such as the BM1370 ASIC ANTMINER S21 PROthe apparent contradiction is not a hypocrisy, but a recognition of the Current limitations of the mining industry. The manufacture of the chips used by ASIC to mine BTC is led by a few technology companies, such as Bitmain, Canaan and Microbt, which raises a conflict in terms of decentralization.
However, Liang also considers that “open source ASIC chips are not entirely necessary for this revolution,” although he announced that “the first bitaxe with proto ASIC chips will feel different and will be ready soon.” Protoa team within block (previously Square), led by Jack DORSEY, an American company that is working on the creation of ASIC chips of approximately 15 eh/s (exahashes per second) of hash rate and 3 nanometers (3nm), which represents an important technological advance and which can favor decentralization.
Additionally, and as Cryptooticias reported it, Auradine, a Minero manufacturer with headquarters in the US. Any manufacture mini asicwhich could further enhance the decentralized effect.
In such a way, Bitcoin mining could be facing a dilemma: while some promote the Open Source and thus encourage decentralization, others concentrate hardware production, limiting this aspiration. Liang criticizes Bitmain for his market domain, but his choice to use his chips reflects the reality of an industry where alternatives are scarce.
