White House Shuts Down Wyoming Bitcoin Farm Near Air Force Base Over Security Concerns
The White House has ordered the shutdown of a Bitcoin mining operation in Wyoming due to national security concerns. The mining farm, located less than a mile from the US Air Force base Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, is suspected of espionage for China.
MineOne, the operator of the farm, is owned by Bitmain, the world's largest manufacturer of ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) used in Bitcoin mining. The company runs several farms across the US, with a total capacity of 350 Petahash, a significant portion of the global network.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) raised alarms about the farm's operation by Chinese nationals using foreign computer equipment near the base, which houses LGM-30 Minuteman missiles. The White House ruled the purchase of the property illegal, giving MineOne 120 days to sell the land and 90 days to vacate.
Bison Blockchain, a Wyoming-based startup, had negotiated a power contract with Black Hills Energy on behalf of MineOne for up to 75 megawatts. However, Bison later filed a lawsuit against MineOne, accusing it of acting like adversaries and taking over projects in North Range and Campstool. The startup also expanded its lawsuit to include Bitmain, alleging the company was behind the takeover of the farms by a Chinese conglomerate.
The mining farm's proximity to the Air Force base and suspected ties to foreign interests have raised serious national security concerns. The White House's decision to shut down the operation underscores the importance of scrutinizing foreign investments in critical infrastructure. The future of the mining farm and the ongoing legal disputes remain uncertain.
Read also:
- Industrial robots in China are being installed at a faster rate than in both the United States and the European Union, as the global market for these robots faces a downturn.
- NATO's Massive Naval Drill Shows Unity Against Russian Aggression
- Undeads Games Reaches $30 Million TVL and Gears Up for MMORPG Debut
- Hyundai N affirms transition to hybrid performance-centric models, initiating with Tucson N
