The well funded Bitcoin company, 21 inc., has released a product: The 21 Bitcoin Computer. The Bitcoin computer will allow any type of user to have full access to the Bitcoin network and comes complete as a Linux box Bitcoin ASIC miner combo. The Bitcoin Computer is a full node and will bring Bitcoin functionality far and wide. The CEO of 21.co, Balaji S. Srinivasan, explained in a Medium post:
With this pocket-sized device, if you are an entrepreneur or developer, you can now instantly buy or sell digital goods and services at the command line using Bitcoin. For example, you can use the 21 Bitcoin Computer to:
– instantly mine Bitcoin from the command line
– sell API calls for Bitcoin, like English-to-Chinese translation or file conversion
– set up your own personal iTunes-like digital goods store
– reward peers for posting your links on social media
– make any IoT hardware Bitcoin-rentable, from smart locks to 3D printers
More than an ASIC Bitcoin Miner
The 21 Bitcoin mining chip that is included in the Bitcoin computer itself isn’t that useful. It runs at 50-125 Gh/s and uses 0.16 Joules per Gh. Other Bitcoin ASIC miners on the market are much more efficient although much bigger. By being able to have your own freshly minted bitcoins, the 21 Bitcoin computer will allow users to enjoy all the benefits of the Bitcoin network. 21 Inc. expects its Bitcoin computer users to generate Bitcoin with other business activities besides mining. they explained in their FAQ:
The short version is that your margins on bitcoin earned by selling digital goods and services with the 21 Bitcoin Computer are likely going to be much better than your margins from bitcoin mined with the 21 Bitcoin Computer. That is because the 21 Bitcoin Computer allows you to use bitcoin as a true digital currency for taking worldwide payment for your APIs. The mined bitcoin just provides continuous liquidity into the system.
The new Bitcoin Computer is currently available for order from Amazon at the price of $400. Currently, you can only use fiat currencies to buy the Bitcoin computer. Bitcoin holders are very aware that they can use a service like Purse.io to order this device and pay bitcoin.
Images from 21.co and Pixabay.