Satoshi's Stove*
(*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.)
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.
Problem
Bitcoin mining consumes enormous amounts of electricity, with nearly all of that energy converted into waste heat that is typically vented away and lost. This inefficiency exacerbates environmental concerns, contributes to high operational costs, and limits the perceived sustainability of cryptocurrency networks. Satoshi's Stove addresses this by repurposing the excess heat generated by Bitcoin miners for practical cooking, transforming a major source of energy waste into a useful resource for off-grid or everyday applications.
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.
Above is a Bitcoin mining facility in Norcross, Georgia that reportedly uses technologies such as large-scale immersion cooling to improve energy efficiency in its mining facilities. Immersion cooling can significantly reduce the amount of energy wasted on air conditioning and conventional cooling, which lowers both energy costs and overall environmental impact of the hardware itself.
Impact
Energy Efficiency: It addresses the environmental concerns associated with Bitcoin mining by utilizing the excess heat for cooking, thereby reducing energy waste.
Sustainable Living: By merging technology with daily utility, it promotes a sustainable lifestyle, especially in off-grid or resource-limited settings.
Innovative Design: The project exemplifies creative problem-solving by turning a digital process into a tangible, beneficial application.
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.
The logic of Satoshi’s Stove--converting compute-waste into utility--is a framework I apply to all emerging technologies. Whether it’s AI server heat or other waste from emerging technology, I am interested in how we can design a more symbiotic relationship between our digital tools and our physical environments.
