Crypto mining SoC unearths a need for custom IP

By Jason Szu-Sheng Kang

July 14, 2026

Conflicting application requirements can turn system-on-chip (SoC) design into a hall of mirrors. In particular, choosing a process technology can become a maze of contradictions and puzzles.

Then there is higher speed, which generally requires more power. Next, the technology that delivers the necessary performance and power efficiency may be unacceptable due to cost or supply-chain constraints.

However, a design partner who can customize foundational IP—logic cell libraries or memories—and shepherd the custom cells through the design flow, manufacturing, and testing can often bring an SoC design safely through the maze.

One recent engagement with a crypto-mining client illustrates the importance of custom foundational IP in resolving these trade-offs. And it also shows how the impact of custom cells can ripple through the design flow, from tape-out and beyond, emphasizing the need for a design partner with expertise in both IP creation and SoC implementation.

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