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Payments Giant Block to Build Open-Source Bitcoin Mining System

The payment services company formerly known as Square is open to building new mining computers and is hiring for a new engineering team.

Updated May 11, 2023, 7:14 p.m. Published Jan 13, 2022, 10:58 p.m.

Block, formerly known as payments company Square, is going ahead with its plan to build an open-source bitcoin mining system, according to a Tweet from Thomas Templeton, Block's general manager for hardware.

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  • “We want to make mining more distributed and efficient in every way, from buying, to set up, to maintenance, to mining,” Templeton tweeted.
  • He also tweeted the company is open to making new ASICs (specialized bitcoin mining computers), and has started evaluating various IP blocks, open-source miner firmware and other system software offerings.
  • Block has started hiring to build out a core engineering team.
  • Previously, Block CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted on Oct. 15 that the company was planning to build a mining system based on custom silicon and open source for individuals and businesses worldwide.
  • Dorsey has been an enthusiastic supporter of bitcoin, believing the cryptocurrency has great potential.

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

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KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

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Millions in crypto wealth at risk of vanishing when holders die. Here's how to protect them

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Without proper planning, inherited crypto can easily be lost to delays, missing keys or fiduciaries unfamiliar with the asset class, experts warn.

What to know:

  • Crypto holders can take a few steps to prevent their assets from disappearing forever when they pass away.
  • Without proper planning, inherited crypto can easily be lost to probate delays, missing private keys, or fiduciaries unfamiliar with the asset class.
  • Even with improved regulatory clarity, crypto adds complexity beyond what many in the advisory space are accustomed to.