The recent announcement revealing the launch of U.S. Bitcoin Corp. (USBTC) into the ranks of mining giants, such as Riot Platforms, Core Scientific, and Marathon Digital Holdings is turning heads in the crypto community. This rapid expansion follows a deal to acquire mining assets from the bankrupt lender Celsius, which is expected to raise USBTC’s computing power to an impressive 12.2 exahash/second (EH/s).
Part of a consortium called Fahrenheit, USBTC managed to win a bankruptcy auction for Celsius assets that include an extensive lending portfolio, crypto assets, and 121,800 mining machines. Once integrated, USBTC will have approximately 270,000 mining rigs under its control. To complement this aggressive growth, the miner will enter into one or more operating and services agreements, positioning itself as the “exclusive operator” of Celsius mining fleet.
While the deal comes with notable perks, such as a $15 million annual management fee for USBTC and an additional $20 million in management fees allocated to the Fahrenheit consortium, there are significant responsibilities as well. USBTC is required to build a 100-megawatt (MW) infrastructure for the Celsius rigs and devise a plan to develop another 240 MW of capacity at a behind-the-meter site.
The Miami-based firm’s rapid expansion strategy has been primarily fueled by its ability to capitalize on opportunities emerging from bankruptcies in the sector. Beginning with a single site in Niagara Falls, New York, USBTC has acquired three former sites operated by Compute North, which filed for Chapter 11 in September 2022. While two of these sites are owned by InvestGenerate Capital, the third is a joint venture involving USBTC and energy company NextEra Energy.
Accompanying these acquisitions, USBTC has secured hosting deals for 150,000 machines in its facilities and is undergoing a merger with Canada’s Hut 8 Mining. Other members of the Fahrenheit consortium entrusted with managing the Celsius assets include Proof Group Capital Management, Steven Kokinos, and Ravi Kaza.
However, it is crucial to weigh the potential risks and challenges this rapid expansion may bring. Large-scale mining operations often raise concerns of high energy consumption and environmental impact. Moreover, managing a considerably larger infrastructure could pose unforeseen difficulties.
In conclusion, while USBTC’s swift growth and acquisition strategy is certainly attention-grabbing, only time will tell if its ambitions translate into sustainable and profitable operations in the increasingly competitive world of crypto mining.
Source: Coindesk
