Bitcoin (BTC) ASIC miners — machines optimized for the sole purpose of mining Bitcoin — are currently selling at bottom-of-the-barrel prices not seen since 2020 and 2021, in what is being viewed as another sign of a deepened crypto bear market. According to the latest data from Hashrate Index, the most efficient ASIC miners, those generating at least one terahash per 38 joules of energy, have seen their prices fall 86.82% from May. 7, 2021 peak of $119.25 per terahash down to $15.71 as of Dec. 25. Miners in these category include Bitmain’s Antminer S19 and MicroBTC’s Whatsminer M30s. The same statement holds true for the mid-tier machines, with prices now averaging out at $10.23 after falling a massive 89.36% from its peak price of $96.24 on May. 7, 2021. However, the least efficient machi...
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has just launched a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) providing European customers with exposure to the blockchain industry, while reports indicate a Metaverse-focused ETF may be on the way. The new blockchain ETF launched on Sept. 27 is called the iShares Blockchain Technology UCITS ETF (BLKC). BlackRock said 75% of its holdings consist of blockchain companies such as miners and exchanges, while the other 25% are companies that support the blockchain ecosystem. The fund includes 35 global companies out of a total of 50 holdings, which also includes fiat cash and derivatives, but does not directly invest in cryptocurrencies. BLKC marks the latest of a series of moves into the digital assets space for BlackRock, with the m...
Crypto mining firm Riot Blockchain reported it produced fewer Bitcoin (BTC) in July 2022 than that in July 2021 after scaling down operations at its Texas facility. In a Wednesday announcement, Riot said its miners had produced 318 Bitcoin in July, more than 28% less than the 443 BTC the firm reported generating in July 2021. According to Riot CEO Jason Les, the firm curtailed operations by 11,717 megawatt-hours in July in response to increasing demand on Texas’ energy grid. Many parts of the Lone Star State experienced several days with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, requiring additional power for air conditioners. “As energy demand in [Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT] reached all-time highs this past month, the company voluntarily curtailed its energy...
In a document filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday, Bitcoin (BTC) mining company Riot Blockchain announced that it would be selling up to $500 million worth of common stock to finance general corporate expenses, such as working capital, repayment of corporate obligations, capital expenditures and acquisitions, and investing in existing and future projects. After the offering, the company would have more than 139 million units of common stock outstanding, giving it a market cap of close to $3 billion at Friday’s prices. The company is authorized to issue 170 million units of common stock in total. RIOT’s share price has experienced volatility over the past 12 months. Source: TradingView Currently, Riot Blockchain operates a flee...