Week in BTX: February 24, 2022
The world is in chaos, read The Sovereign Individual for clarity.
As I write this Russia is invading Ukraine and North America is experiencing aftershocks of the Canadian government’s authoritarian crackdown. While the world falls into chaos, I am thankful to live in Texas and urge y’all to become more politically active so we can keep Texas a beacon of freedom and liberty.
Early Voting in the Texas Republican and Democrat primaries is ongoing and ends tomorrow, 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.
I recently started reading The Sovereign Individual, add it to your reading list if you haven’t already. The book explores the greatest economic and political transition in centuries, the shift from an industrial to an information-based society, and how it is irrevocably altering the power of government and individuals.
We are currently experiencing the very volatile transition phase…..are you prepared to lead your family, friends, community and business into this next era?
General
Austinite Marty Bent joined Tucker Carlson to talk Bitcoin self custody and Canada.
Digital Wildcatters released the schedule for Day One of Empower: Energizing Bitcoin in Houston. Speakers include US Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, and too many other Texas Bitcoiners to mention.
Mustache aficionado and Houstonian Griffin Haby joined Max Gagliardi’s Talk Energy Podcast to talk Bitcoin mining, entrepreneurship and energy.
Apparently Griffin Haby has a Bitcoin movie trailer, he will be signing autographs at tonight’s Houston Bitcoin Meetup.
Public Policy/Politics/Regulatory
The Texas Tribune’s political report Patrick Svitek (Happy Birthday!) reports a super PAC called Crypto Innovation that was recently formed is spent $24,363 on direct mail in support of Republican Congressman Van Taylor of Plano.
Patrick Svitek also reports that crypto PACs Protect our Future and WEB3 Forward have each spent nearly $1 million in support of State Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) campaign for Congress to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas).
Texas State Securities Board entered an emergency cease and desist order against Wireless Management, LLC, and its principal, William S. Rogers. It accuses the parties of promoting fraudulent investments tied to a technology leveraging a decentralized network of global hotspots, Helium, that permits cryptocurrency mining while providing wireless access for others.
BlockFi announced a $100 million settlement with the SEC and 32 states to settle charges that it offered an unregistered lending product, BlockFi Interest Accounts. The Texas State Securities Board is set to received $943,396.22 from the settlement. Approximately 36,443 Texans were known BlockFi investors with an estimated invested value of $688,470,359 as of December 2021.
Mining
CoinDesk dives into tax implications for commercial Bitcoin miners and says that US based Bitcoin miners are projected to pay about $299 million in taxes on a pre-tax profits of $1.4 billion. Another reason federal and state governments will support Bitcoin….
ERCOT released peak 2023 forecast to be 7.7% higher than 2021, citing Bitcoin mining to be responsible for several gigawatts of that new demand.
The Hashrate Index dives into how Bitcoin mining, Controllable Load Resource and ERCOT helps the grid in times of stress.
Rural Rockdale, Texas, home of largest Bitcoin mine in North America, announced that their sales tax revenue is up 21% for the year. Wonder if RIOT/Whinstone’s investment and 600 plus FTEs and contractors had anything to do with that…..
US Senator John Cornyn toured the RIOT/Whinstone Bitcoin mining facility in Rockdale.
The Houston Chroncile’s ($) Amanda Drane dives into Texas Bitcoin mining and energy use.
Midland’s KWES-TV Channel 9 released an investigative report, “Power and Money: Stranded Energy and Cryptocurrency in West Texas.”
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
Houston Bitcoin Meetup February 24, 2022
Austin Bitcoin Club March 3, 2022
SATSxSW events March 10-20, 2022 in Austin around SXSW
Pleb Labs Hackathon March 12-13 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
Rhodium is hiring 7 positions in Austin and Temple.
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 16 positions based in Austin & Dallas.
Lancium LLC is hiring for 6 position based in The Woodlands.
NYDIG is hiring 5 roles in the Houston area.
Compass Mining is hiring 1 position in Austin
The Blockchain Association’s job board shows 65 Texas based jobs.
People on the Move
Send me your career news!
Bitcoin Citadel
Legendary oilman T. Boone Picken’s 65,000 acre Mesa Vista Ranch is on the market for 4,857 Bitcoin. The ranch includes T. Boone Picken’s childhood home, a 40-Unit dog kennel with a bronze sculpture of a dog in front of it, a golf course, gun room, Bing Crosby’s front door, 2,250 square feet two story pub, and an airport.
To Ponder While You Wander
“There has been no greater advertisement for bitcoin over the course of its existence than the authoritarian crackdown currently unfolding in Canada. The overt power grab which has resulted in the sudden unilateral freezing of Canadian bank and bitcoin exchange accounts associated with individuals who sent funds to or received funds on behalf of the Freedom Convoy. The terrorizing of peaceful protestors with harsh economic sanctions has awoken a mass of people both inside and outside of Canada to the utility of bitcoin.” - Marty Bent