Bitcoin vs. Intel Stock – Did Intel Give Up on Bitcoin Too Early?

In a twist that no one saw coming—well, maybe crypto diehards did—Bitcoin has spiked back to  $84,000, a staggering 186% jump from its price in April 2023. But while the world’s most famous cryptocurrency was rocketing to new heights, one tech giant was heading in the opposite direction.

Intel, the legendary chipmaker, pulled the plug on its Bitcoin mining chip business almost two years ago. Now, in 2025, that decision looks more like a missed train than a calculated pivot.

Back in April 2022, Intel dipped its toes into the Bitcoin mining arena with Blockscale, a set of ASIC chips built for crypto mining. Optimism was high. Partners like Argo Blockchain and Block, Inc. signed on. But the honeymoon didn’t last. By April 2023, Intel shut the doors on Blockscale, stopped taking new orders, and confirmed it would halt shipments entirely by April 2024.

The official reason? A crypto downturn. Bitcoin was hovering around $29,000 back then—down over 50% from its 2021 highs. Fair enough. But hindsight is a brutal teacher.

Let’s look at the numbers.

• Bitcoin in April 2023: $29,449
• Bitcoin today: $84,307
• Gain: +186%
  

Now compare that with Intel’s stock:

• Intel stock in April 2023: $32.43
• Intel stock now: $19.74
• Drop: -39%

That’s not all. The Bitcoin hash rate—which essentially measures how much computing power is securing the network—has exploded by over 163% since then. That’s a clear sign: more miners have jumped into the game, and the competition has never been fiercer. The mining sector is booming, and the chips that power it? Still in high demand.

Meanwhile, Intel’s decision to step away has left a noticeable void. While rivals continue to explore crypto-related tech innovations, Intel has been slipping—at least on the stock chart. As of the latest data, their shares are down 1.55% year-to-date, and the company holds a low momentum and growth score.

It begs the question: Did Intel jump ship right before the storm cleared?

In hindsight, their timing couldn’t have been worse. With Bitcoin smashing through ceilings, demand for mining infrastructure is once again on the rise. Had Intel stayed the course, would their chips be at the heart of this hash rate boom?

We’ll never know for sure. But as Bitcoin continues to defy expectations and traditional markets wobble, Intel’s decision stands as a striking example of playing it safe—and missing out on something massive.

For now, Bitcoin believers are riding high. And Intel? They’re watching from the sidelines.