Majority Bitcoin mining operations in Texas have been halted in Texas, US after forecasts of severe heat waves have made it to the headlines there. In order to maintain an adequate temperature in mining farms, electricity consumption in the region could shoot up causing hinderance in the power supply to other residents of the state. Hence, majority BTC mining companies in Texas have turned off their machines. Bitcoin mining is already infamous for gobbling up loads of electricity and disrupting power supply in nearby regions.
Bitcoin mining players in Texas like Riot Blockchain and Agro Blockchain manage several power-intensive computing machines, that are used by miners to solve complex algorithms and mine Bitcoins.
“Over 1,000 megawatts worth of Bitcoin mining load were turned off to conserve energy for the state’s network. This represents nearly all industrial scale Bitcoin mining load in Texas and allows for over 1 percent of total grid capacity to be pushed back onto the grid for retail and commercial use,” a Bloomberg report quoted Lee Bratcher as saying. Bratcher is the President of the Texas Blockchain Association.
The decision of BTC miners to halt their operations amid extreme heat conditions is also influenced by Texas’ electricity provider, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
As per a report by CryptoPotato, ERCOT, that oversees electricity consumption of crypto miners, also felt it was necessary to give BTC mining operations a rest for the time being.
Miners are shutting down in Texas today to help maintain grid stability during a heat wave. #Bitcoin mining has become an important part of the grid in Texas. Soon it will be an integral piece of grid infrastructure all over the world.
— Dennis Porter (@Dennis_Porter_) July 11, 2022
Texas emerged as a Bitcoin mining hub after the Chinese government criminalised all crypto-related activities earlier this year. Excessive power consumption in crypto mining was one of the important reasons why China took the drastic measure.
The state offers a 10-year tax abatement, sales tax credits, and state-sponsored workforce training to crypto miners, attracting more of them, a report by Data Center Dynamics said.
At present, two of the world’s largest cryptocurrency mines are under construction in Texas.
Texas is poised to become the #Bitcoin mining capital of the U.S. as a result of its deregulated electricity landscape, cheap energy costs, and welcoming lawmakers. :electric_plug::zap:
The #Whinstone mine in Rockdale, TX (pictured) could be capable of producing 500+ Bitcoins per month! pic.twitter.com/XiVMlPBDX9
— Sophia Zaller (@sophiamzaller) July 9, 2021
Now that Texas miners have paused mining Bitcoin, blocks on the blockchain that record each transaction may take longer to get validated, causing the Bitcoin system to experience some snags.
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Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.