Week in BTX: February 13, 2022
Early voting in the Texas Republican and Democrat primaries start tomorrow, join me in voting for pro Bitcoin candidates Governor Greg Abbott and Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian!
Early voting in the Texas Republican and Democrat primaries start tomorrow (Monday Feb. 14) and runs till Friday, February 25. Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. Go vote for pro Bitcoin candidates Governor Greg Abbott and Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian! Find your early voting locations here.
A shout out to Scott’s Mining Conference for a successful conference in Round Rock.
I enjoyed moderating the Gas to Bitcoin panel featuring Nick Gates with Priority Power, Al Kaplan and Eric Carlos with Bridge Energy Solutions, Marshall Holbrooks with Midstream Enterprises and Griffin Haby with Limpa Creek Technologies.
CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos continues to dive into the Texas Bitcoin industry, this time profiling the rise of Giga Energy’s Brent Whitehead and Matt Lohstroh.
MacKenzie has fairly covered the Texas Bitcoin industry and we appreciate her efforts! I will blame her editors for the over the top headlines….
General
Bitcoin Magazine’s Pete Rizzo says that Republicans and Democrats will support Bitcoin for one reason: JOBS!
Marty Bent previews Ghost + Lighting to disrupt digital content paywalls with bitcoin.
As the Washington, DC swamp slowly turns its eye on cryptocurrencies, the industry’s lobbying expenditures has doubled to $4.92 million in 2021 according to a report from Crypto Head.
Infamous Houston trial lawyer Tony Buzbee’s River Oaks mansion is on the market for $27,500,000 with Douglas Elliman Real Estate agent Beth Cassidy and Bitcoin is accepted as payment. This grand house has a colorful history — the site of a love story, a notorious robbery, a WWII tank and a high-profile fundraiser Donald Trump.
US Senator Ted Cruz smash bought up to $50,000 of Bitcoin on January 25, 2022 when Bitcoin was around $36,000.
Public Policy/Politics/Regulatory
The Department of Justice seized $3.6 billion in Bitcoin that was allegedly stolen, once again showing that criminals who use Bitcoin to laundry money will get caught, unlike say the USD…..
Mining
CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos profiles the rise of Giga Energy’s Brent Whitehead and Matt Lohstroh.
TechCrunch and Fortune ($) jump on the national media bandwagon declaring Texas the Bitcoin mining capital of the world.
Argo announces it will be one of Intel's first customers for their upcoming ultra-low-voltage energy-efficient Bitcoin mining ASIC. Will Argo’s under construction 800-megawatt Helios facility in west Texas be home to these new ASICs?
Bitcoin miner Compute North, has closed a $385 million round that included an $85 million Series C funding co-led by Mercuria and Generate Capital plus $300 million in debt financing from Generate to fund the continued development of new U.S.-based data centers, including is west Texas facility.
Marathon is the only Bitcoin miner named on Forbes Blockchain 50 2022 list.
K&L Gates filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Texas Western District Court on behalf of Midas Green Technologies against Rhodium Technologies LLC
Core Scientific’s self-mining operations produced 1,077 bitcoins in January 2022 and holds 6,373 bitcoins produced from operations. Core operates its own fleet of more than 75,000 bitcoin miners, producing 7.5 EH/s. This number is expected to grow in Q2 2022 when its Texas facility comes online.
Riot/Whinstone produced 458 BTC in January 2022 and held approximately 5,347 BTC, all produced by the their self-mining operations. Riot currently has a deployed fleet of approximately 32,552 miners, with a hash rate capacity of 3.4 EH/s.
Digital Wildcatters is bringing Bitcoin Mining to the Energy Capital of the World.
Empower will be the first bitcoin mining event with a focus on energy — bringing together energy, mining, finance, and other professionals in the city that powers the world. We are shutting down the streets in Houston for an iconic two-day event at 8th Wonder Brewery, where you will get to learn and network with energy producers, capital groups, miners, and other builders in the space.
Use code BTC-NEWS to get $50 off your purchase at checkout.
Events
Texas Bitcoin Foundation Launch Happy Hour February 15, 2022 in Austin
Austin BitDevs February 17, 2022
Fort Bitcoin February 22, 2022 in Fort Worth
Houston Bitcoin Meetup February 24, 2022
Austin Bitcoin Club March 3, 2022
SATSxSW events March 10-20, 2022 in Austin around SXSW
Austin BitDevs March 17, 2022
Digital Wildcatter’s Energy + Bitcoin Mining Conference March 30-31, 2022 in Houston ($50 of tickets with code BTC-NEWS)
Bitcoin 2022 Conference April 6-9, 2022 in Miami (10% off with code TEXAS10)
Austin Bitcoin Club April 7, 2022
Consensus June 10-12, 2022 in Austin
BitBlockParty June 10, 2022 during Consensus in Austin
Coin Center Annual Dinner June 10, 2022 during Consensus in Austin
BitBlockBoom August 25-28, 2022, in Austin
Texas Blockchain Summit November 18, 2022 in Austin SAVE THE DATE
LinkedIn says Bitcoin and crypto job postings grew 395% in 2021: 3x the tech industry. Have a Bitcoin related job you want to promote? Reach out!
Jobs
Satoshi Energy is hiring 5 positions in Austin.
Argo Blockchain is hiring Security Guards, Blockchain Mining Technicians, Facility Cooling Engineers and Facility Electrical Engineers for its west Texas facility.
Compute North is hiring Field Technicians in Grandbury
RIOT is hiring 7 positions in Austin, including Associate General Counsel.
Okcoin is hiring 4 positions based in Austin.
Poolin is hiring maintenance technicians and journeyman electricians in west Texas and corporate positions in Austin
Unchained Capital is hiring for 15 positions based in Austin & Dallas.
Lancium LLC is hiring for 10 position based in The Woodlands.
NYDIG is hiring 3 roles in the Houston area.
Compass Mining is hiring 3 positions in Austin
The Blockchain Association’s job board shows 45 Texas based jobs.
People on the Move
Matt Odell has joined Austin based Bitcoin accelerator Pleb Labs as an advisor.
Bitcoin Citadel
The 259 acre Guadalupe River Ranch is on the market and features over 1.3 miles of Guadalupe River frontage with ancient cypress trees and over half a mile of Flat Rock Creek frontage. The property is highlighted by manicured meadows, giant pecan trees and crystal waters of the deep pools and shallow river rock shores.
To Ponder While You Wander
“Republicans And Democrats Will Both Support Bitcoin: In fact, it won’t be altruism uniting bitterly divided left-wing and right-wing politicians in their advocacy for the technology. Rather, the reason Democrats and Republicans will embrace Bitcoin is because Bitcoin will create jobs – high-income jobs, particularly, in heartland and rural America.” - Pete Rizzo, Editor at Bitcoin Magazine