Bitcoin miners in Texas are facing a temporary setback as they power down their operations in response to the state’s ongoing energy crisis. The scorching heatwave that gripped the Lone Star State forced the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to take drastic measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply to its 25 million customers, accounting for a staggering 90% of the state’s grid load.
To alleviate the energy strain, ERCOT invoked emergency procedures, compelling specific power consumers, including Bitcoin miners, to curtail their energy consumption. The relentless heatwave pushed several mining outfits to temporarily suspend their operations.
Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital are among those who recently announced a pause in their mining activities. Marathon Digital reported a 9% drop in Bitcoin production, reflecting the challenges faced by miners during this energy crisis.
Lee Bratcher, President of the Texas Blockchain Council, shed light on the situation, stating:
“We have consistently been seeing 90% plus curtailment of Bitcoin mining each day this week that power conditions tightened.”
Bratcher emphasized that only essential power for office buildings and backup systems remained unaffected.
Financial Ramifications For Bitcoin Miners
Analysts are closely monitoring the impact of the energy crisis on Bitcoin miners, and the results are concerning. JPMorgan Chase recently reported a 21% decline in the market capitalization of the largest crypto mining firms in the United States during the month of August. Riot, one of the prominent players in the industry, suffered the most significant setback, with a 39% drop in market capitalization over the same period.
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Author: Christian Encila