Bitcoin mining company Marathon Digital reported a 21% decrease in Bitcoin mined in June, citing harsh weather conditions in Texas and a significant fall in transaction fees as contributing factors.
The company’s main operations in Texas produced 979 Bitcoin, a notable decline compared to the previous month due to the transition from spring to summer.
National Weather Service data revealed a substantial increase in temperature in Texas during June, which has historically disrupted crypto mining operations in the state.
The impact of weather conditions on mining operations was evident earlier this year when Riot Platforms experienced a temporary halt in operations due to severe winter weather. 17,040 rigs went offline, causing a disruption in their mining activities.
Additionally, Marathon Digital faced challenges with transaction fees, which dipped to approximately 5.1% of total Bitcoin earnings in June, down from 11.8% in May.
This decline occurred despite the increased transaction fees introduced with the advent of Bitcoin Ordinals in May.
However, Marathon Digital maintains a positive outlook on the long-term profitability of mining, despite the recent downturn caused by external factors such as weather conditions.
The decrease in Bitcoin mining highlights the vulnerability of crypto mining operations to external factors, particularly weather conditions.
Argo Blockchain, another mining firm operating in West Texas, had to temporarily suspend its mining activities in 2022 due to a conservation alert issued by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Despite individual setbacks, the broader industry shows a positive trend. A report by Coin Metrics revealed that Bitcoin miners earned $184 million from transaction fees in Q2 2023, surpassing the total earnings from fees for the entirety of 2022.
This indicates a thriving overall trend for the industry, despite the challenges faced by individual mining companies.
