Regarding ASIC mining, I have fond memories of
backing Butterfly labs in 2013 even when most users in this forum had doubts, they eventually pulled through producing the first ASIC ever made after several delays, though the controversy was wild to say the least. I wasn't just a miner back then, had an online shop selling modchips for game consoles
accepting Bitcoin since 2011 (so it wasn't just alpaca socks).
Did they actually ever get that out? I know their FPGA made it but I remember all sorts of drama with fake demos and some fuss with Inaba when it came to the ASIC.