Tether Opensources Bitcoin Mining OS to Empower Small Miners

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, is set to open-source its Bitcoin mining operating system, a move that could significantly disrupt the mining industry and lower barriers for new entrants. This initiative, announced by CEO Paolo Ardoino, aims to provide smaller or independent miners with tools that typically require expensive third-party software or infrastructure. The software, known as the Mining Operating System (MOS), is designed to scale from small, DIY setups to large, industrial mining sites. Ardoino's announcement, "Make mining great again," underscores the goal of reducing dependence on centralized mining software providers and offering a more level playing field between small miners and publicly listed firms.

The MOS is built with a modular, peer-to-peer architecture, making it highly flexible. It can run on systems as simple as a Raspberry Pi or scale up to support massive mining operations involving hundreds of thousands of machines. This system already supports a wide range of mining hardware and power setups, including air-cooled and immersion-based container designs. Tether’s decision to release MOS could close the gap between smaller operators and larger mining companies, empowering smaller operators to enter or scale up their participation in Bitcoin mining.

Another significant aspect of this move is its potential impact on energy usage. Ardoino believes that more small and mid-sized businesses that generate their own electricity, such as through solar, will begin using excess power to mine Bitcoin. This could lead to a more decentralized and sustainable mining ecosystem. While no release date for the open-source version was provided, the announcement adds another layer to Tether’s growing involvement in Bitcoin mining and infrastructure. The company has previously invested in mining operations and energy initiatives, especially in Latin America.

Tether’s push into open-source AI and mining software comes at a time when Bitcoin miners face one of the most challenging post-halving environments to date. Since the April 2025 halving cut block rewards to 3.125 BTC, many public miners have shifted from HODLing to selling. The pressure is mounting as the Bitcoin network’s hash rate hit a record one sextillion hashes per second in April, and mining difficulty reached a new high of 121.51 trillion in May, after a 6.81% jump. Miner revenue in March plunged 50% year-over-year, dropping to just $1.2 billion. The hashprice, a key metric of mining profitability, has barely recovered, hovering around $54 per PH/s.

To stay afloat, some firms are shifting to AI. HIVE has already reported stronger income from AI workloads than crypto mining, prompting heavier investment in compute infrastructure. Others, like Cango, have gone all-in on mining, producing over 950 BTC across April and May after exiting legacy operations. Tether’s AI initiative could support that trend, blending decentralized compute with native crypto payments and offering a new path for miners eyeing survival through diversification. In this new chapter, miners may need more than hardware to keep their edge.