Research Summary
The report provides an overview of the latest developments in the cryptocurrency mining industry. It covers the operational updates of various mining companies, including Bitfufu, Hut 8, Bitdeer, and Marathon. The report also highlights the growing interest in mining in Ethiopia and the legal challenges faced by some companies in the U.S.
Key Takeaways
Company Updates
- Hut 8’s Expansion: Hut 8 is planning to add more than 12 EH/s of hashrate to its managed services business and is pre-constructing a 63 MW site in Texas. The company holds 9,116 bitcoins on its balance sheet.
- Bitdeer’s Growth: Bitdeer mined 330 Bitcoins in January, a 123.0% increase from the same period last year. The company is preparing to construct a 221MW datacenter in Ohio and a 175MW immersion cooling datacenter in Norway.
- Marathon’s Performance: Marathon mined 1,084 BTC in January, a decrease of 42 percent from December, due to weather and equipment failures. The company holds 15,741 BTC, with a total cash and BTC value of $1 billion.
- Riot’s Funding: Riot has raised nearly $560 million over the past four months through stock offerings to fund its large purchases of MicroBT’s WhatsMiners.
Legal Challenges
- Legal Disputes: The Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and Riot Platforms sued the U.S. Department of Energy for demanding information without giving respondents sufficient notice. They also sued Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other officials.
Emerging Markets
- Mining in Ethiopia: Ethiopia is becoming a popular destination for Chinese miners. State-owned Ethiopian Investment Holdings has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Data Center Service, a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s West Data Group, for a $250-million project for data mining and artificial intelligence training operations in Ethiopia.
Actionable Insights
- Monitor Hut 8’s Expansion: The company’s plan to add more than 12 EH/s of hashrate to its managed services business and its pre-construction of a 63 MW site in Texas could significantly impact its future performance.
- Assess Bitdeer’s Growth: Bitdeer’s significant increase in Bitcoin mining and its ongoing construction of datacenters in Ohio and Norway indicate a strong growth trajectory.
- Understand Legal Challenges: The legal disputes involving the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and Riot Platforms could have implications for the regulatory environment for cryptocurrency mining in the U.S.
- Explore Emerging Markets: The growing interest in mining in Ethiopia, particularly from Chinese miners, suggests potential opportunities in this emerging market.
