- Bitmain has unveiled a $20 million data center in Washington
- There are plans to open more establishments in the next year
- They have received a warm welcome from residents
Bitmain has just opened its $20 million complex near the Wenatchee airport.
The Chinese firm’s new establishment is comprised of six buildings which use thousands of computers to maintain Bitcoin’s ledger transactions.
The decision to move to Douglas County, Washington, was influenced by the low cost of hydro-power which reduces operational costs and also its cool weather which will help in keeping the systems at a suitable temperature.
This is in contrast to a number of other locations which have implemented sanctions for cryptocurrency mining related activities that they deem wasteful.
More complexes are under construction and the county has shown enthusiasm about the new development.
A Warm Welcome
“Anytime there is a new industry, it is going to be something that makes people uncomfortable,” said Port of Douglas County executive director Lisa Parks. “It is an industry that consumes a lot of power. From our perspective though, we were looking at it as a way in which we can complement and advance our other industries in our community.”
She also stated that she hopes that local residents would develop expertise in blockchain technology to enable them
become a part of the foundation of the DLT industry and not just consumers.
The center opening has also been described as a big win for the county by Washington State Department of Commerce business development manager Evan Wendlandt.
With the center now up and running, more are in the works.
Salido enterprises, for example, Â intends to open a 20-megawatt cryptocurrency mine next year and a number of data centers will be opening near Apple orchards to serve firms such as Mobile, Costco, and VMWare.
Bitmain, on their part, has secured a number of properties in the Washington area for the development of more centers.
A lease obtained earlier this year for a property in Walla Walla caused a significant amount of controversy due to push-back from residents who claimed that the mine would be high risk.
“Cryptocurrency mining, which generates few jobs, is a dangerous business model that makes a product of highly questionable and unpredictable value and contributes nothing for the good of the Earth or humanity,” said an op-ed by Bob Carson, a professor emeritus, in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin newspaper.
Other places, such as the City of Chelan, have banned crypto activities from setting up shop in the city altogether.
