Connect with us

Published

on

Bitcoin miner Hive taps Paraguay for low-cost energy partnership

Several crypto-focused organizations — including Bitcoin (BTC) mining companies — are eyeing a US return, primarily driven by uncertain geopolitical tensions. Still, BTC miner Hive Digital Technologies is doubling down on the untapped potential of the Latin American (LATAM) market.

In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Hive Digital Technologies’ president and CEO, Aydin Kilic, said that Paraguay presents a compelling long-term opportunity equipped with “geopolitical stability, low-cost hydro energy, and a government open to foreign investment”.

Picking up from where Bitfarms left off

Hive acquired Bitfarms’ 200 megawatt (MW) Yguazú facility for $56 million in January. Phase one infrastructure of a 100 MW data center at the site was completed in April, supporting five exahashes per second (EH/s) of application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mining.

Hive plans to expand to 300 MW of mining facilities in Paraguay in 2025. It aims to increase its hashrate to 25 EH/s by September.

Related: Bitfarms sells Paraguay site to Hive for $85M, refocuses on US

The CEO said Hive has spent over a year cultivating strong, cooperative relationships with local stakeholders in Paraguay. “We are investing in local hiring, training programs and strong vendor partnerships. Our goal is to create a local ecosystem of support that keeps costs stable while boosting uptime and efficiency,” he added.

While there was a proposed ban on crypto mining in Paraguay due to the pressure it poses on the country’s electricity supply and potential rising electricity prices, Aydin said that their team is actively involved with policymakers to support clarity and cooperation in mining legislation.

Hive embraces global diversification to hedge against geopolitical risks

Hive has data centers in Canada, Sweden and Paraguay. Contrasting with its ongoing LATAM expansion, the miner is relocating its headquarters to San Antonio, Texas. 

“Our growing presence in North and South America creates a balanced footprint resilient to geopolitical or trade policy shocks,” Kilic said.

The US tariff on China raised concerns about the rising cost of mining equipment, like ASICs. Kilic told Cointelegraph that they have diversified sourcing channels for ASICs and electrical components to avoid single-region dependencies. 

Related: Bitcoin miners should pay costs in depreciating currency — Ledn exec

To ensure scaling from six to 25 EH/s, the CEO said the company has locked in key ASIC orders, secured power access through long-term power purchase agreements, and expanded engineering capacity across three continents to deal with market and technological uncertainties.

Profitability in Bitcoin mining is ultimately a physics equation

Kilic sees Bitcoin mining profit as a physics equation. He told Cointelegraph that capital and operational expenses depend on hashrate-sensitive analysis to seek the most accretive way to fund their business through BTC treasury and ATM sales.

While the solo mining community may have more difficulty making profits, the CEO suggested the focus should be on the variables it can control: “Whether you run one rig or ten thousand, it comes down to controlling inputs like opex, power costs, and machine uptime to drive predictable outputs —  maximizing energy efficiency, minimizing downtime and being disciplined with treasury management.”

Magazine: Korea to lift corporate crypto ban, beware crypto mining HDs: Asia Express

Continue Reading

Politics

EU exploring Ethereum, Solana for digital euro launch: FT

Published

on

By

EU exploring Ethereum, Solana for digital euro launch: FT

EU exploring Ethereum, Solana for digital euro launch: FT

The EU is exploring Ethereum and Solana for its digital euro, marking a shift toward public blockchains over private models like China’s CBDC.

Continue Reading

Politics

Starmer’s dilemma in Trump and Putin’s shadow

Published

on

By

Starmer's dilemma in Trump and Putin's shadow

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈

Can Britain afford both welfare and warfare? Beth Rigby takes us inside the row that could define Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.

From that huge Commons rebellion over welfare cuts to the looming pressure on defence spending, how can the government look after Britain at home, while holding the line abroad?

For this special episode, Beth speaks to the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt and ex-Labour welfare minister Jim Murphy.

Also, Ruth and Harriet ask whether anything has actually changed after the Trump-Putin Alaska summit and whether European leaders can make a difference after crowding into the White House this week?

Remember, you can also watch us on YouTube.

Continue Reading

Politics

​​US House adds CBDC ban to massive defense policy bill

Published

on

By

​​US House adds CBDC ban to massive defense policy bill

​​US House adds CBDC ban to massive defense policy bill

The House slipped a provision banning the Federal Reserve from issuing a digital currency into an almost 1,300-page bill on defense policy.

Continue Reading

Trending