Satoshi's Stove
Satoshi's Stove is a Bitcoin miner that also acts as a functional stove, harnessing the intense heat generated during mining to cook meals anytime and anywhere. Designed for efficiency and sustainability, it transforms wasted energy into a practical resource, merging cryptocurrency innovation with everyday utility.
(*Satoshi Nakamoto is the name used by the presumed pseudonymous person or persons who developed bitcoin, authored the bitcoin white paper, and created and deployed bitcoin's original reference implementation.)
Impact
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Energy Efficiency: It addresses the environmental concerns associated with Bitcoin mining by utilizing the excess heat for cooking, thereby reducing energy waste.
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Sustainable Living: By merging technology with daily utility, it promotes a sustainable lifestyle, especially in off-grid or resource-limited settings.
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Innovative Design: The project exemplifies creative problem-solving by turning a digital process into a tangible, beneficial application.
This concept aligns with real-world examples where excess heat from Bitcoin mining is repurposed, such as heating pools in New York City and towns in Finland.
Satoshi's Stove is an exploration of how digital technologies can be harmoniously integrated into everyday life. It challenges the notion of digital processes being detached from physical utility and encourages a reevaluation of energy consumption in technology.
What is Bitcoin Mining?
Bitcoin mining is the process where computers solve complex cryptographic/mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and secure the Bitcoin network. In return, miners are rewarded with newly minted bitcoins, making it the mechanism for introducing new bitcoins into circulation. This process releases immense amount of heat and energy.
How hot does it get?
Bitcoin miners, especially ASIC miners, can reach temperatures of 60°C to 90°C (140°F to 194°F) under normal operation. In poorly ventilated or high-power setups, they can exceed 100°C (212°F) in some areas, particularly around heat sinks and exhaust vents.
This is hot enough for cooking poached eggs, meat, beans, rice, and even boil water. However, by using heat concentration methods like a thermal enclosure, it could be possible to increase efficiency and raise temperatures.
A pool in Bathhouse Flatiron in New York City, which is heated by Bitcoin mining.
Real examples of channeling wasted energy from Bitcoin Mining
"The idea of a Bitcoin mine heating a pool sounds strange. The machines run constantly to find new Bitcoin and safeguard the Bitcoin network. The heat they generate from their activity is extracted via pipes, and powers the Bathhouse’s heated pools and marble stones. Co-owner Jason Goodman says the technique allows him to warm his pools more efficiently than traditional methods, while also accruing a stockpile of Bitcoin he hopes will increase in value going forward."
"Around the world, a handful of establishments are turning to the same methods in an attempt to harness energy from intensive computing for greater societal use, including to heat a town in Finland and an Olympic pool in Paris.
How does it Work?
🧠 1. The Bitcoin Mining Unit (The Brain & Heater)
🔥 2. Heat Transfer and Insulation (The Cooking Mechanism)
A specialized computer called an ASIC miner (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) is used for mining Bitcoin. Unlike a regular laptop, it's designed to do one thing only — solve Bitcoin’s cryptographic puzzles.
The ASIC runs billions of calculations per second. This consumes a lot of electricity and generates a ton of heat as a byproduct.
The heat from the ASIC miner’s chips and fans is captured using metal heat sinks, thermal paste, and heat pipes or ducts. Fans blow the hot air into a thermal enclosure. Materials like aluminum or copper are used to spread and store heat efficiently. Insulation materials (like fiberglass or ceramic) help keep the heat in the cooking area instead of escaping.
The surface could reach between 60–90°C (140–194°F), ideal for slow cooking or keeping food warm.
⚡ 3. Power and Control System
The miner is plugged into a power supply unit (PSU), which converts your wall electricity (AC) into the proper type (DC) that the miner needs. The PSU often includes a cooling fan, which also adds to the heat output. An on/off switch or controller could help manage when mining (and cooking) happens. The device could have a touchscreen or app interface to show mining stats and cooking temp.
🍳 4. Cooking Enclosure or Hotplate
This is the part where you place your pan or container.
It's connected to the miner via heat pipes or just sits directly above the mining unit with an induction plate.
Final Product
