GMO Internet’s Cryptocurrency Mining Business Develops 12 nm FFC Process Technology for Semiconductor Chips: Progressing towards realizing a cutting-edge 7 nm process technology for mining chips
Smart Planet
GMO Internet’s new cryptocurrency mining business, which has been launched through its European legal entity, is currently developing cutting-edge 7 nm*1 process technologies for chips to be used in the mining process. We are currently jointly working on research and development with our alliance partner who possesses semiconductor design technology to realize next-generation mining board, a high-performance computer for mining.
As the first step of the research and development, we have succeeded in developing a new 12 nm FFC*2 process based mining chip (12 nm FFC mining chip). The following outcomes have been obtained, which are significant milestones as they show that we are closer to realizing a 7 nm process technology for chips to be used in the mining process.
1. Prior to the development of a 7 nm process technology, validation of SHA256*3 logic circuit is complete.
2. We have succeeded in developing 12 nm semiconductor mining chip, a cutting-edge ASIC*4 mining hardware.
Cutting-edge 7 nm process technology for chips will be used in the mining process, and GMO Internet will continue to work on research and development, using the next-generation mining boards in the mining process in the first half of 2018.
In consideration of the fact that GMO Internet has succeeded in developing a 12 nm FFC mining chip, we will proceed to the next step of the development to realize a 7 nm process technology for chips to be used in the mining process. We will not sell mining boards equipped with 12 nm FFC process based mining chips.
Cryptocurrency mining business
GMO Internet has announced entry into cryptocurrency mining business in September 2017 to support mining infrastructure of cryptocurrencies, which are the “new universal currencies,” by leveraging our accumulated know-how in Internet Infrastructure and Internet Finance, and launched the business on December 20, 2017, earlier than initially planned.
Cryptocurrency mining business requires computers enabling highly sophisticated and intensive computation and also requires securing stable power supply to operate and cool the computers. GMO Internet operates its mining center utilizing plentiful renewable energy in Northern Europe, which has allowed us to achieve low power consumption.
We are developing high performance computers (mining boards) for mining with our alliance partner who possesses semiconductor design technology. Prior to the development of our own mining boards, we are using existing mining technology for mining.
GMO Internet will continue to work on research and development of a 7 nm process technology for chips to be used in the mining process, and will also introduce the next-generation mining boards equipped with these chips in the first half of 2018.