POD256 | Bitcoin Mining, Freedom Tech, and Awesome Tangents

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Episodes

115

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A Bitcoin podcast focused on open-source Bitcoin mining, energy, and freedom tech. Recorded weekly at Bitcoin Park in Nashville, TN. Co-hosted by: @econoalchemist, @skot9000, and @tylerkstevens

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June 10, 2026Episode 1161 hr 4 min

116. Decentralizing Pool Payouts: Inside GridPool with Agent P

In this episode, we sit down with Agent P to unpack his open-source project GridPool, a radically simple approach to decentralizing Bitcoin mining payouts. We trace his journey from early concerns about mining centralization during the China ban to reverse‑engineering Ocean’s Datum client to build a compatible, open server—enabling client-side block template construction without relying on a centralized payout custodian. Agent P walks us through GridPool’s on-deck and winners lists, how difficulty-ordered but evenly split payout slots remove the need for a latency-prone share chain, and why this design can serve both medium-size miners seeking lower variance and small “lottery” miners. We also discuss compatibility with Hydrapool, potential Stratum V2 and CKPool integrations, bootstrapping a decentralized node network, and how GridPool preserves censorship resistance by only sharing minimal data necessary for verification. We close with a fascinating detour into vibe coding: Agent P details using AI agents to port open-source firmware onto closed miners—compiling and live-loading Mujina onto an S19 XP via SSH with minimal manual intervention—illustrating how AI lowers the barrier for anyone to contribute to open-source mining tools. If you’re passionate about censorship resistance, decentralized pool payouts, and hands-on experimentation, this is a must-listen. Resources: gridpool.net • Hydropool and P2Pool v2 repos (community forks) • February Forum thread on firmware tips for Antminers • Testnet4 participation for GridPool bootstrapping

May 27, 2026Episode 1151 hr 15 min

115. From Bitaxe to Exahash: Inside HydroPool’s Record Stress Test and What’s Next

In this episode, we debrief Telehash #4 and dig into the open-source future of Bitcoin mining. We share behind-the-scenes metrics from HydraPool’s six-and-a-half–hour live stress test, including 30.8 zettahashes processed, an average of 1.32 EH/s, a peak of 2.495 EH/s, 2,231 workers, 59 unique users, and an impressively low ~1% server CPU under >2,000 connections. We explain why rejection rates under ~2% matter, how stale and “difficulty too low” shares differ in solo vs pooled mining, and how Stratum “suggest difficulty,” plus our d= and h= password parameters, help right-size starting difficulty—making Telehash inclusive for both exahash renters and single-chip Bitaxe miners. We also touch on leaderboards, loyalty uptime rules, and shout out supporters like Elektron Energy, Compass, Saaz Mining, and Abundant Minds. From hardware to policy, we discuss Bitaxe UX updates (LVGL, Figma-driven UI, external display/knob), DOOMAXE fun, and industry standardization—from firmware and pools to racks, cooling, and power—arguing that open reference designs cut costs and risk for everyone. We cover GridPool’s “winners list” approach to decentralized variance smoothing, the Patoshi/extra nonce story, vardiff dynamics, and privacy-conscious VPN mining. We reflect on immersion’s decline versus hydro, ASIC roadmap realities and slowing efficiency gains, the supply-chain and security stakes (FCC Wi‑Fi moves, vendor backdoors), and why nonprofit coordination via the 256 Foundation matters for open firmware, dev kits, and reference designs. We close with community invites, next steps for Telehash #5, and a call for ASIC makers and big miners to collaborate on open standards that benefit small and large operators alike.

May 13, 2026Episode 11451 min

114. Open Source Wins in Vegas: $100k Boost, DoomAxe Demo, and Telehash #4

In this week’s catch-up, Skot, Tyler, & econoalchemist sit down with each other after a whirlwind couple of weeks and get the full down low from the Vegas conference—panels, debates, demos, and a surprise $100,000 grant win. They dive into the spirited on-stage debate over open source mining, why chip closed-ness doesn’t invalidate open source hardware, and how community-driven, transparent tooling remains our North Star. Highlights include Schnitzel’s battery-powered “DoomAxe” portable miner (yes, it plays Doom), rapid-fire integrations with Proto Fleet, and a Mario Kart tournament that filled a 3,000,000-sat prize pot. They also share details on winning MARA Foundation’s community vote and how the funds will extend runway for the four core open-source pillars: Ember One Hashboard, Mujina firmware, Libre Board control board, and HydraPool—plus the crucial work of storytelling, docs, and community building around them.256 Foundation unveils the revamped 256foundation.org website and a self-hosted Discourse forum for discoverable, scam-resistant support and collaboration (forum.256foundation.org), along with Mujina dev calls to channel contributor energy productively. Then they preview Telehash #4 in Austin—hashrate donors, Wrigley’s new Block Party event for pre-buying solo hash, and fresh “loyalty” gamification on the HashDash (dash.256f.org). The hosts cap it off with home-mining lore, solo-block luck stories, and a nod to running your own node. No pod next week during TEMS, but they’ll be live for Telehash #4 and back on the 27th.

April 22, 2026Episode 11340 min

113. Touchscreens, Thermostats, and Doom: A Weekend of Open Mining Hacks

In this episode, we go deep on a wild weekend of open hardware hacking across the 256 Foundation community. Skot walks us through getting Mujina running on an S19j Pro with Wi‑Fi via a hidden USB port, plus a USB hub and a repurposed open source touchscreen to display live hashrate, temps, and fan data—laying the groundwork for a tidy, Wi‑Fi‑connected, touchscreen miner retrofit. We also riff on AI‑assisted CAD and browser automation for rapid prototyping, and brainstorm practical home‑heating integrations: using LibreBoard as the bridge between standard 24V thermostats and miners, ramp control vs. binary heat calls, PID loops, and the real limits of tuning frequency on different firmwares and machines. Beyond the bench, we celebrate Schnitzel’s Doom-on‑LibreBoard test, discuss the path to open firmware on WhatsMiners, and the hardware hacks that open firmware makes obsolete (farewell, trick boards). We hit PSU mods for 120V, LuxOS’s new “ignore PSU link” option, Stratum V2 progress including BlitzPool’s solo pool and non‑custodial PPLNS roadmap, and what a node‑native, open, block-template app could unlock. We close by shouting out OpenSats’ Open Hardware Impact report (Bitaxe, BitShoka/BitSoka Nini), recent hardestblocks.org features, the growing roster on dash.256f.org, and community builds from BitForge Nano to filament dryers heated by hashrate. Catch the 256 crew live in Vegas next week for panels on open hardware and human rights.

April 15, 2026Episode 1121 hr 23 min

112. Stratum v2, Nonce Space, and the DIY Miner’s Comeback

On Tax Day, we kick off POD256 #112 with a wide-ranging, host-perspective dive into home mining, open-source mining firmware, decentralized pools, and where the ASIC market is headed. We revisit the early laptop-to-industrial arc of Bitcoin mining, why home mining resurfaced around 2020, and how guides like Mining for the Streets and Home Mining for Non-KYC Bitcoin galvanized a wave of at-home tinkerers. We cover the Chinese mining ban windfall, the subsequent hash rate climb that wrecked many, and why small, open hardware like the Bitaxe matters far beyond its raw terahash. From Telegram-era sketchy miner purchases to today’s growing network of community builders, we trace how the culture and tooling matured. We dig into open-source momentum: Mujina on the Braiins BCB100 control board, expanding support for S19 generations, and why Stratum V2 plus Mujina is a powerful combo for permissionless iteration. We unpack HydraPool’s goals—lowering the barrier to spin up pools, P2Pool v2 coordination, and new payout strategies—alongside the realities of today’s centralized FPPS landscape. We get technical on nonce space, version bits, rolling time, and why poorly specified Stratum v1 became defined by closed implementations. We also talk ASIC roadmaps (Bitmain/WhatsMiner cadence, tape-out risks), potential shifts as big miners eye AI/HPC, hosted mining vs. hash-rate rentals, the debates around BIP-0110 signaling, and the need for authentic decentralization. Finally, we preview Telehash #4 in Austin, celebrate a streak of solo-mined blocks, and invite listeners to point spare hash toward 256f to support open mining R&D. Donate or point hashrate: https://dash.256f.org/ • Telehash #4: May 19 at Bitcoin Park (Austin) • Follow the leaderboard and instructions at dash.256f.org

April 11, 2026Episode 1111 hr 29 min

111. Open-Source Overdrive: Mujina Breakthroughs, Public Pool’s First Block, and LibreBoard v3

In this episode, we kick things off with the joys and perils of being “nerd‑sniped” by new open-source hardware ideas—from sketching a $20 USB Bitcoin miner concept we jokingly dubbed Bitaxe Latte, to unveiling a tiny AC Infinity fan adapter board that lets miners control powerful, quiet duct fans via standard 4‑pin headers. We dive into firmware nuances, like PWM frequency tweaks and RPM reporting workarounds using Mujina, and how open-source collaboration accelerates progress across the stack. We celebrate a big week for solo miners: three blocks found in just a few days (4 blocks as of publishing): CKPool (x2), Public Pool’s first hosted-instance block, and Node Runners’ pool—while unpacking pool mechanics, coinbase verification protections in AxeOS, and why transparent, GPL-aligned software matters. We also share April roadmaps: HydraPool improvements for password-field difficulty/hashrate hints and better logging; Mujina’s push toward a universal Bitmain-chip driver; and LibreBoard v3’s power design updates. Rounding out the shop talk, we swap stencil printer and solder paste tips, touch on Ember One v6.1 reliability upgrades, ASIC RS community growth, Telehash/Austin plans, and upcoming appearances in Vegas and Bitcoin Park Nashville—all in service of making Bitcoin mining more open, hackable, and fun.

April 1, 2026Episode 1101 hr 1 min

110. April Fools, Real Progress: Open Firmware, Open Pools, and the Path to Decentralized Mining

In this lively April 1 episode of POD256, we cut through the April Fools noise to share real updates from the open-source Bitcoin mining front. We preview the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas, celebrate renewed grants for the 256 Foundation’s four core projects (Mujina firmware, Libre Board, Ember One hashboard, and Hydra Pool), and discuss our all-Bitcoin treasury experiment paying developer grants in sats based on cost basis. We dive deep on unlocking Bitmain control boards, porting Mujina to Amlogic-based Antminers, model guardrails, and running AI-assisted development workflows. We also highlight the power and resilience of open source—from LLM client code leaks to community forks like Ashigaru/Whirlpool—and give shoutouts to our Hydra Pool hashers and the slick new Bitaxe Touch. For show-and-tell, Skot unveils the Bitaxe Bonanza: an open-source miner built around Intel BMZ2 chips donated to the 256 Foundation, targeting ~1.2 TH/s with a robust heatsink, 12V fan, and a clever sidecar for Intel’s 9-bit serial protocol. We discuss why accessible, non-Bitmain chips matter for home miners and heat-reuse projects, how UTXOracle can provide price data without third-party APIs, and why open tools and community collaboration are accelerating the dismantling of the proprietary mining empire. Join us next week—same time, same channel.

March 25, 2026Episode 10951 min

109. Hashrate Heat, Home Sovereignty, and the Open-Source Mining Stack

In this episode, Tyler and eco hold down the fort while Skot is away and dive deep into the frontier of Bitcoin-powered heating and open-source mining. They walk through a new Home Assistant + Venstar-based dashboard built for a customer that tracks miner-delivered BTUs vs. natural gas, stage changes, outdoor temps, sats earned, and economics—proving a single 5kW miner can carry a 3,000+ sq ft home through shoulder season. We unpack heat pumps versus combustion heat, why furnaces are oversized, the sovereignty trade-offs of remote monitoring, and the promise of “buddy systems” that pair hashrate heat with legacy boilers or even wood-fired hydronic setups. We also discuss policy shifts in Denver County, energy resilience at altitude and in extreme cold, and the real-world business models for small-town installers versus metro markets. Then we shift to the 256 Foundation’s roadmap. They outline funding realities post-Telehash and the near-term plan to keep four core open-source projects moving: Ember One hash boards (next rev targeting Intel BZM2), LibreBoard control board (v3 on deck and designed to orchestrate multiple boards, relays, and sensors), HydraPool (one-click, self-hostable pool with gamified dashboard and future Lightning/eCash payouts, Start9/Umbral packaging, and plugin architecture), and Mujina firmware (a Linux-like, no-dev-fee, open standard that can be flashed onto legacy S19-class hardware and, ultimately, ship on flagship miners). We talk market dynamics, why open source beats closed aftermarket firmware in the long run, and how Ember One serves as a reference platform for builders even if efficiency lags cutting-edge ASICs today. We wrap with community updates, forum plans for better knowledge sharing, shoutouts to our HydraPool supporters, and details on our “Open Sourcing the Bitcoin Mining Ecosystem” panel in Las Vegas on Monday, April 27.

March 18, 2026Episode 1081 hr 16 min

108. From Mixers to Miners: Why Samourai Matters for All of Bitcoin (and What You Can Do)

In this live episode from Denver, we rally behind the Samourai Wallet developers, Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, who are serving federal prison sentences for building noncustodial privacy software. We preview our evening event and planned livestream with Lauren Rodriguez—who then drops in mid-show to share first-hand updates on the case, including SDNY’s aggressive jurisdiction tactics, the judge swap that curtailed their defense, and why Treasury guidance and DOJ memos haven’t protected developers from novel prosecutorial theories. We discuss the broader stakes for Bitcoin, open-source development, Lightning compliance, and how these precedents could chill freedom tech far beyond privacy wallets. We close with concrete ways to help—signing the pardon petition, writing letters to Keonne, spreading awareness—and dive into updates on open-source mining: Mujina community momentum, GrapheneOS shifts, and new Antminer control board hacks enabling USB Wi‑Fi and custom firmware, all powered by rapid AI-enabled development. How to support: Sign the change.org/billandkeonne petition for Bill and Keonne, write letters to Keonne, amplify the case on social channels, and catch the fireside chat replay if you missed the livestream.

March 11, 2026Episode 1071 hr 10 min

107. Hacking the Antminer: Mujina on Stock Control Boards, Dev Fees Be Gone

In this episode, we go deep on open-source Bitcoin mining firmware and tooling with Tyler, Skot, and eco. Skot shares his hack of running Mujina on stock Bitmain Antminer S19 control boards—no SD card, just Ethernet/USB flashing via LuxOS—unlocking full control of fans, single-board operation, and APW12 PSU management (with a cautionary tale about overheating and tripping a breaker). We discuss writing drivers for temps, fans, and the undocumented APW12 interface, 120V APW12 hardware mods (hat tip to Zach Bomsta and PivotalPlebTech), and why open firmware without dev fees beats closed alternatives. We also cover contribution best practices to Mujina, new CI pipelines, and how AI is accelerating clean, reviewable PRs. From immersion tweaks without fan spoofers to predictive maintenance and service models, we explore how open hardware/firmware/software can shrink repair times, improve reliability, and replace SaaS-style dev fees with real support. We zoom out to industry dynamics: opaque OEM support, warranty pain, and MOQs that stifle innovation—contrasted with community-built tools like HashScope (a Stratum MITM proxy for miner–pool debugging) and HydraPool experiments. We brainstorm miner incentives for 256F’s pool (e.g., shared block rewards or firmware-level hash-splitting), touch on eHash experiments, and celebrate grassroots devices like the Bitaxe Turbo Touch. The takeaway: open-source stacks like Mujina, HydraPool, LibreBoard, and EmberOne are the path to resilience—from home heaters to megawatt farms—and they need community participation now. Support the 256 Foundation, try the tools, file issues/PRs, and help build the mining future together.