Bitcoin Miners

Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Messages
614
Location
TX
Watched a video on YT about (I think it was Marathon) facility in TX. Uses as much electricity as Dallas to operate, and the people that live close to it hated the noise. 103 decibels in their backyard 24/7. That is a lot of juice to not "produce" any goods. Our grid is already suffering here. I had no idea about this. All I've heard is how much energy AI needs. Now combine the two-we are not prepared.
 
People no longer mine bitcoin as the rate of return diminished over time. The only way it is worthwhile is stealing electricity like mining at work using your own wireless internet and your own computer, etc. It is a waste sure, but so is mining diamond just for financial gain.

Everything uses electricity including Netflix. I am sure we all want to have all we want without wasting energy but in the end how do we define what is good or evil? At the moment AI promise real productivity gain so hopefully it gives us more quality of live than its cost if the work is done by an extra human, etc. Nobody will know until decades down the road.
 
i have one such facility less than 2 kilometers from where i live. and it is connected to a massive power grid. it is a very surreal place. the ATV trail pass just beside it. Hydro Quebec has a massive facility near it. the area has many electric dams. including Manic 5. tons of electricity in the area.
 
People no longer mine bitcoin as the rate of return diminished over time. The only way it is worthwhile is stealing electricity like mining at work using your own wireless internet and your own computer, etc. It is a waste sure, but so is mining diamond just for financial gain.

People don't mine anymore, but large-scale industrial centers do:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LfQPYadBmFBU6quNA

This is the Whinstone Mining Farm in Rockdale, Texas. Notice what's directly next to it? A GIANT electrical substation. That's because it uses upward of 750 MW/year in electricity.

To the south is an Alcoa aluminum plant. Well, it was. It's closed now. Industrial-scale mines co-locate near facilities like this because they have massive infrastructure nearby. As manufacturing dies off and big plants like this Alcoa unit shut down, the need for that electrical infrastructure sinks. Bitcoin mining moves in to suck up the newly available capacity.
 
I thought most of the Bitcoin mining moved offshore now - due to electricity costs. I guess if the infrastructure is already here.

But I do agree with the OP, the whole "proof of work" concept for bitcoin is just wasted resources.
 
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