If there is some belief this is possible, I will try to coordinate it. I have access to a public IC development facility.
Yes there is the belief that this is possible (at least that is my opinion). I am an engineer, but not specialised in Semiconductors. Though I would for sure donate for an open-source ASIC.
I've imagined a world where miners are parts of lamps or embedded in solar panels. In the future, you may find yourself lured to buy a specific brand of cola because it includes an ASIC bitcoin miner.
I am quite sure, that kind of thing is going to happen. Even better than embedding in lamps or solar panels: here is my dream (realistic in my opinion) for year 20xy (hopefully not to far away though):
Every home has a Bitcoin-
Fridge.
Why a fridge?
1) because it is needed in winter AND in summer (important!)... not like radiators
2) the energy that an ASIC consumes does transform almost 100% into heat. With this heat a "Stirling engine" (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine) can produce cooling.
Of course a fridge does not consumes a lot of energy, so it won't mine that much, but multiplied by almost 1 billion home on earth... it would become hard for one group of attacker to get bigger.
Another idea for winter/summer mining: A bitcoin-mining-heater for the winter, and a bitcoin-mining-air-conditioner for the summer.
But for ALL these ideas to become possible, an open-source ASIC-technology like you suggest would help greatly, because if not invented some semicondutor-manufacturer might do some harm before the dream of those desribed things become true.
How would the first step towards an open-source ASIC-technology look like?
