Week in BTX: Friday March 25, 2022
FREE BEER + every major player from natural gas bitcoin miners to financiers, equipment specialists and politicians are scheduled to be at Empower.
Every major player in the Bitcoin mining space will descend on Houston next week for the Digital Wildcatters Empower: Energizing Bitcoin conference, from natural gas bitcoin miners to financiers, equipment specialists and elected officials are scheduled to be at Empower.
Some of the topics include:
How Bitcoin Mining Solves the Oil and Gas Industry’s Flaring Problem
From Hash to Cash: The Economics of Bitcoin Mining
Energizing Bitcoin: On grid vs. Off grid
Why Texas will be the Bitcoin Mining Capital of the World
Get your ticket today: http://bit.ly/btcnews50 ($50 off tickets with code BTC-NEWS)
And there is FREE BEER….
General
Trammell Venture Partners launched a feeder-fund based investment series focused on Bitcoin and Lightning network founders. The fund, a collective of investors pooling their funds, focuses on investors whose focus is on Bitcoin development.
Zaprite is a local Austin Bitcoin company out of Pleb Lab who has made it extremely easy to get paid in bitcoin. You can send invoices, accept payments with Bitcoin, Lightning, Liquid, ACH or any credit/debit cards. Zaprite has now added the ability to connect your Strike handle and receive all payments directly into your Strike account.
Bitcoin Stop, all-purpose cryptocurrency shop opened a retail store in Pearland, offering cryptocurrency consultation; cryptocurrency education and workshops and specialized services, such as installation and maintenance for cryptocurrency miners.
As politicians in DC debate if Bitcoin is being used to get around international sanctions, refugees are verifiably using it as a lifeline to get out of a war zone.
HubSpot, a provider of CRM, sales and marketing software, confirmed that hackers targeted customers in the cryptocurrency industry in a cybersecurity attack reported March 18, 2022. Impacted companies includes Circle, Unchained Capital, Swan Bitcoin, BlockFi, Pantera Capital, and New York Digital Investments Group.
Reminder to get your Bitcoin off exchanges and into cold storage.
Tweet storm by @BikesandBitcoin on what you can do to protect from the incoming spam and phishing you WILL be subject to.
Jimmy Song’s Bitcoin Fixes This podcast had Unchained Capital’s Will Cole on to talk project management, Unchained Capital, Bitcoin Commons, Austin, cowboy hats and much more. If you're a project manager or wanting to be one, this episode will be educational.
Public Policy/Politics/Regulatory
The City of Austin passed a resolution by Council member Mackenzie Kelly directing city staff to conduct a fact-finding study regarding potential Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency policies that could benefit the City of Austin. City Council members Kathie Tovo, Alison Alter and Leslie Pool abstained from the vote…..
Councilwomen Leslie Pool defended her vote by saying that “It’s the lack of oversight and accountability for these currencies that I see that as very troubling and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
The liberal members of Austin City Council should read “A Liberal Case for Crypto” and educate themselves before opining.
City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler’s resolution also passed, exploring how Austin can help create an environment that fosters creativity, diversity, and further innovation in blockchain technology.
Mining
Nic Carter pushed back against Bloomberg’s recent story claiming Texas’ “shaky power grid” is “at risk” due to Bitcoin mining.
Bloomberg failed to mention ERCOT CEO Brad Jones statement that Bitcoin mining is “a great opportunity for us. The more demand, to the degree that it's flexible, that can turn down when we need the power for other customers, is fantastic. We can use that cryptocurrency to soak up the excess generation and there's a lot of that – and provide a home for more wind and solar to come to our state. And it reduces its consumption during periods where we get tight and we need power for other customers."
New York Times jumps into the Bitcoin mining energy usage debate in typical fashion…“Facing intense criticism, the crypto mining industry is trying to change the view that its energy-guzzling computers are harmful to the climate.”
At the March 30, 2022 ERCOT Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) they are expected to vote on creating the Large Flexible Load Task Force (LFLTF) that reports to the TAC. The LFLTF will develop policy recommendations for consideration by TAC relating to the integration of large flexible loads into the ERCOT System. LFLTF will consider policies related to planning, markets, operations, and large load interconnection processes; review related market rules; and consider associated Revision Requests.
US Congressman Pete Sessions of Waco, Texas is all in on Bitcoin mining. The Congressman’s District 17 includes Milam County, home of RIOT/Whinstone, the largest Bitcoin mine in North America.
It appears Core Scientific’s Bitcoin mining facility in Denton, Texas is facing roadblocks regarding internet capabilities. The project is expected to be completed in December 2022 but discovered the installed internet network did not provide sufficient bandwidth. Because of this, the City of Denton is looking into leasing fiber optics to Core Scientific.
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 Blockchain Council Austin Happy Hour March 28
Digital Wildcatter’s Energy + Bitcoin Mining Conference March 30-31, 2022 in Houston ($50 off 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
Midland Bitcoin Meetup April 14, 2022
San Antonio Bitcoin Meetup April 14, 2022
Texas Beef (and Bitcoin) Initiative Conference April 23-24, 2022 in Kerrville
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
Core Scientific is hiring in Austin, Denton, Pecos and Barstow
Rosseau is hiring a Data Center Manger ($120-$150k paid in USD and/or BTC) in Austin. Email talent at rosseau.io for more info.
TMGcore is hiring a Mine Manager - Crypto Mining Environment in Plano
Cormint Data Systems (Fort Bocks) is hiring a Data Center Technician in Fort Stockton
Bitmain is hiring a data center operator in Rockdale.
Lighting Capital is hiring its first employee, an experienced Go developer to help Lightning node operators manage their Bitcoin capital.
Rhodium is hiring 2 positions in Austin and Temple and an armed security officer in Rockdale.
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 aSite Operations Manager in McCamey.
RIOT is hiring 2 positions in Austin, including Associate General Counsel.
Okcoin is hiring 3 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 13 positions based in Austin & Dallas.
Lancium LLC is hiring positions based in The Woodlands and a Data Center Site Facilities Manager in Abilene.
NYDIG is hiring 7 roles in the Houston area.
Compass Mining is hiring in Austin
The Blockchain Association’s job board shows 68 Texas based jobs.
People on the Move
The Texas Blockchain Council hired Steve Kinard as Director of Bitcoin Mining Analytics. Steve will be working with Bitcoin miners to gather more data about Bitcoin mining in Texas such as job creation, EH/s, demand response, etc.
Bitcoin Citadel
The 489 acre Pequine Creek Ranch is a free range hunters paradise with large neighbors on 3 sides and witnessing an array of whitetail deer, turkeys, quail & dove. The ranch has 1 mile of under ground waterlines that feed 4 water troughs and a divot pond acting as a natural watering hole for the wildlife. The ranch is in south Texas, 5 miles West of Alice Texas and close to an HEB!
To Ponder While You Wander
“In a sea of crypto noise, Trammell Venture Partners, is Bitcoin signal." - Bitcoin angel investor Stephen Cole.