Company Name: Heatbit
Founder: Alex Busarov
Date Established: April 2020
Headquarters Location: Remote
Employee Count: 25
Website: https://heatbit.com/
Public or Private? Private
In the early months of 2020, Alex Busarov found himself confined in his Shanghai residence during COVID. To alleviate his monotony, he purchased an Antminer S9, a Bitcoin mining apparatus, to experiment with.
Upon connecting it, he swiftly discovered two key insights: Bitcoin miners are loud, and they operate at high temperatures.
While Busarov regarded the former as an inconvenience, he perceived the latter as a chance for innovation.
Fast-forward to now, Busarov and his team are gearing up for festive deliveries of Bitcoin miners that operate silently while also serving as space heaters (and air purifiers) — the flagship offering from his company, Heatbit.
Moreover, Busarov has developed a product that aids in decentralizing Bitcoin’s hashrate, which has become alarmingly centralized.
“Initially, what intrigued me was the ability to utilize energy for both home heating and Bitcoin mining simultaneously, but the mission evolved as I recognized the significance of decentralizing Bitcoin mining,” Busarov shared with Bitcoin Magazine. “I believe we’re establishing the most resilient framework for Bitcoin to operate on.”
How Heatbit Devices Function
Heatbit devices measure 24 inches tall and 8 inches wide. They are cylindrical in design and boast a modern finish.
Post-setup, users simply need to download the Heatbit app and link the device to their WiFi to commence Bitcoin mining.
Once operational, the device consumes no more power than a Dyson space heater and emits no more sound than a whispering hum; it directs the hashing power generated towards a default mining pool, currently NiceHash, soon to be Luxor. Eventually, users will have the option to select their own mining pool or search for Bitcoin blocks independently if desired.
“Essentially, you can begin without even knowing what a mining pool is,” Busarov explained. “However, once you understand more or if you’re already knowledgeable about mining pools, you can simply enter the information for the pool you wish to join, or mine solo.”
Busarov clarified that the ability to choose a mining pool or engage in solo mining has not yet been activated for all users, but it will be available soon.
“We have no plans to restrict users to a specific pool,” he stated.
If operated continuously, the device mines approximately 700 sats daily, translating to around 20,000 sats monthly — approximately $20 per month based on Bitcoin’s value at the time of writing.
The earned sats are retained in a smart contract until they reach a certain minimum (currently between $10 and $20 worth of Bitcoin) before being transferred into the user’s wallet address on the Bitcoin base chain.
Busarov is aware that some users worry about rising Bitcoin fees, which is why he and his team are working on introducing Lightning.
“Lightning is definitely on the way,” Busarov confirmed. “It’s not activated yet, but it’s coming.”
Decentralizing The Hashrate
As Busarov noted, contributing to the decentralization of Bitcoin’s hashrate wasn’t his initial aim in developing Heatbit devices. However, once he began to comprehend the extent of its concentration, he recognized this additional dimension of Heatbit’s value.
“When there are five major mining firms and 20 renowned mining locations, if you intend to harm Bitcoin, you identify those 20 locations, right?” Busarov warned.
“Moreover, if Bitcoin’s price plummets significantly, which happens occasionally, and if mining companies are over-leveraged, they might go out of business,” he added regarding the potential risk of leading mining firms facing bankruptcy.
“Yet, individuals will continue utilizing the heaters, as they are not expending extra funds to mine this way. They will keep using their miners since they aren’t incurring losses, which makes it the most economical mining approach.”
At first glance, Busarov’s assertion that the home miners he has designed can significantly support the Bitcoin ecosystem may seem a bit exaggerated, particularly given how minuscule the hashrate generated by Heatbit devices is compared to that produced by leading mining firms.
However, taking into account the scale of the home heating market, Busarov’s claim appears more credible.
“Approximately 200 million electric heaters are sold annually,” stated Busarov, highlighting the market that Heatbit aims to capture long term.
In the nearer term, though, Busarov realizes that customers in that space may not possess the funds for a heater like Heatbit, which is priced at $799.
“Most individuals wouldn’t invest in an $800 heater,” he explained. “We’re exploring the option of creating a more budget-friendly version so we can increase sales.”
Emphasizing affordability has been secondary to ensuring quality and timely delivery, however. Busarov and his team have dedicated their efforts to crafting a robust and reliable product that they can ship expediently.
Built To Endure, Prepared To Dispatch
The current model of Heatbit devices results from extensive research and development, alongside sourcing premium components from over 70 separate suppliers.
In simpler terms, Busarov and his team have engineered a device that can withstand rough handling. (Please refrain from mistreating your Heatbit device; we do not endorse any form of mining or heating appliance abuse here at Bitcoin Magazine.)
“I placed one in a box and was genuinely tossing it around. I was treating it as if UPS or FedEx might, and upon inspection, I found that it didn’t sustain any damage,” he added.
Busarov conveyed this information with a smile, a mix of amusement from my reaction to his account of how he tests the durability of his products and genuine satisfaction from the trust many have placed in him within the Bitcoin community.
“When we began building, it took longer than anticipated,” Busarov stated, noting that he and his team faced pressure as customers had preordered devices.
“Some individuals voiced their concerns regarding shipping delays and requested refunds, which we complied with, yet a great number of people expressed, ‘Hey, you guys are doing something worthwhile. We believe in you. Keep it up,’” he added.
“When people convey words like that to you, you cannot give up. When there’s immense trust and expectation that individuals place in you, it fuels your motivation and energy to persevere.”
And persevere they did, ultimately producing a reliable product that’s now poised for widespread shipping en masse.
The Future Of Heatbit
Busarov envisions that once leading manufacturers of household appliances notice Heatbit’s innovations, they may become interested in developing comparable products.
“I believe that once we demonstrate that this is a feasible concept, other companies will take an interest in it,” he remarked.
“It will become particularly intriguing when companies like Dyson and Samsung, along with other major electronics manufacturers, begin exploring this direction,” he elaborated.
“Imagine if Samsung commences the production of home devices — not exclusively space heaters — but other appliances that can mine at scale.”
Busarov has also been monitoring advancements in the open-source Bitcoin mining initiative and has been in communication with a leading figure in that space: Skot, the founder of Bitaxe. He’s considering how he might integrate elements from that movement while remaining mindful of the need for safety in consumer products.
“I have a genuine appreciation for the open-source Bitcoin mining movement, and I hope we will have the opportunity to contribute to it,” declared Busarov.
“That said, we must exercise caution, as heaters consume a large amount of power, which can pose dangers if mishandled,” he added.
In closing, Busarov reiterated his belief that he is not merely creating an innovative product for the typical consumer; he believes Heatbit is helping to define the future of Bitcoin mining.
“Bitcoin mining will not revolve around massive warehouses consuming exorbitant energy, where large firms must sell the Bitcoin they mine to cover energy costs and other expenses,” he explained. “With home mining, there’s no necessity to sell any of the Bitcoin generated.”