Riot Blockchain, one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining firms, has announced a significant expansion of its mining capacity.
The company has entered into a long-term purchase agreement with China-based Bitcoin miner manufacturer MicroBT, securing an initial order of 33,280 next-generation Bitcoin miners.
The installation of these new miners is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 and will boost Riot’s self-mining capacity to an impressive 20.1 EH/s.
The new miners are specifically designed for immersion cooling systems, like the ones utilized at Riot’s Texas facility. This will enhance the company’s fleet efficiency and prepare it for the upcoming Bitcoin halving.
The initial order placed under the agreement consists of 33,280 machines, amounting to a cost of approximately $163 million or $21.50 per terahash (TH).
Notably, Riot retains the option to purchase an additional 66,560 machines at the same terms before the end of 2024. This partnership with MicroBT also aims to establish a robust domestic supply chain in the United States, promoting job creation at MicroBT’s Pittsburgh facility.
MicroBT’s COO, Jordan Chen, highlighted the significance of this collaboration in expanding its operations and increasing market share in the United States.
The machines acquired by Riot, specifically the M56S+ and M56S++ models, are known to be MicroBT’s most powerful offerings to date.
The manufacturing of these miners within the United States will further solidify MicroBT’s presence and create new employment opportunities in the region.
Riot Blockchain’s CEO, Jason Les, expressed excitement over the powerful and efficient nature of these new miners. He said that the additional 7.6 EH/s contributed by these machines will enhance Riot’s fleet efficiency and prepare the company for the upcoming Bitcoin halving.
Despite challenges faced due to winter storms damaging its Rockdale Facility in Texas, Riot Blockchain managed to generate 740 BTC in January alone.
This represented a remarkable 62% increase compared to the same period in the previous year and marked a new monthly all-time high for the company.
Riot’s continued growth in mining operations has allowed it to thrive even amidst the evolving landscape of the crypto industry.