If they are trying to test 2.1 million ASIC chips with a small crew then I can understand the delay... What I can't understand is why the BTC is still in the account and hasn't been used to hire additional people. My best guess is that they've been paid and aren't in any hurry to get the chips out now.
I guess the best way to know is ask ourselves if the contract is for 10,000 working&tested chips or 10,000 chips direct from the fab.
The webstore for chip sales said the chips would be working/tested.
The no bullshit, no fine print terms of sale- the only payment accepted is Bitcoin.
- these chips will be available until at least end of the year, 2013.
- spec and various information is available on the wiki
- the chips being sold are packaged and tested.
- the lead time on the chips is 9 to 10 weeks,
- made to order from TSMC foundry, this also means no refunds.
- the order quantity is 10,000 chips.
- the chips are identical to those in the Avalon units.
- communication protocol, reference board design can be found on github.
- everything will be open source from FPGA to PCB design.
- 30 sample chips will be provided 4 weeks into ordering per 10,000 chips.
- we do not offer technical support of any kind, this is final.
if you do not know what to do with the reference design / packaged chips, please do not purchase.