Mining Pool Centralization With CheckSum

July 2, 2024

Industry expert Ian Descôteaux from Pow.Re discusses evidence of pool consolidation, risks to Bitcoin, and potential solutions for decentralization. This podcast explores the growing centralization of Bitcoin mining pools, focusing on proxy pools and their potential impact on the network.

Follow along on your favorite podcast player of choice by clicking here.

Check out Bitcoin Season 2 and The Gwart Show.
Watch our newest documentary, The Big Empty!

Follow our host on Twitter, @wsfoxley.

Thank you to our sponsor, CleanSpark, America’s Bitcoin miner! And thank you to Foreman Mining, Master Your Mining!

The Mining Pod” is produced by Sunnyside Honey LLC with Senior Producer, Damien Somerset. Distributed by CoinDesk with Senior Producer Michele Musso and Executive Producer Jared Schwartz.

Related Episodes

Can Bitcoin Survive Low Transaction Fees?

Our guest, Cormint CEO James McAvity, makes the case that Bitcoin’s low transaction fees should raise concerns.

Sep 02, 2025

Will ASIC Miners Ever See Another Bull Run?

Tariffs, AI/HPC pivots, and new manufacturers are all disrupting markets for ASIC miners.

Aug 26, 2025

Google Ups TeraWulf Stake, MSTR’s New Stock Guidance, Kanye’s Memecoin

TeraWulf has upsized a convertible note in an AI deal that involves Google taking a 14% stake in the company.

Aug 22, 2025

What Traders Should Expect From Friday’s Fed Meeting In Jackson Hole

Jerome Powell might be forced to cut rates this September. Or at least that’s what the market thinks. But is that good for the USA?

Aug 21, 2025

Proto ASIC Miner, MARA’s AI Move, Google Invests in Terawulf, Ethiopia Mining Ban

Proto is changing the game with its new ASIC miner, Rig, and MARA takes a majority stake in an AI/HPC company tied to France’s government-run power provider.

Aug 15, 2025

Pacific Northwest Bitcoin Mining w/ Beau Turner

The Pacific Northwest should be a haven for bitcoin miners, but red tape and a lack of curtailment programs are holding the states back.

Aug 12, 2025

China Mining Ban Fake News, Semiconductor Tariffs, $14.5B Mining Pool Heist

No, China is not banning bitcoin mining again.

Aug 08, 2025

How to Mine Bitcoin From Home in 2025

The BitAxe craze has sparked a whole new generation of pleb mining.

Aug 05, 2025

MARA’s Q2 Earnings, In-Kind BTC ETFs, Bitmain’s U.S. Manufacturing Moves

MARA beat expectations for Q2, the SEC approves in-kind BTC ETFs, and Bitmain is shipping more raw materials to the U.S.

Aug 01, 2025