Get All Access for $5/mo

China's Bitcoin Miners Head to Texas and Florida: Report Beijing's harsh crackdown on the Bitcoin industry has triggered what's being dubbed "the great mining migration."

By Euni Han Edited by Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

diyun Zhu | Getty Images

China has been home to 60% to 75% of the world's Bitcoin mining in recent years, the energy-intensive process that makes new coins and keeps a running tally of all transactions on existing cryptocurrencies.

But in May, the government restricted mining and trading, prompting an exodus of miners to states like Texas and Florida, according to CNBC. The Lone Star State's abundance of solar and wind power, deregulated power market and pro-crypto political stance make it a perfect destination, says Brandon Arvanaghi, a former security engineer at crypto exchange Gemini.

"Texas not only has the cheapest electricity in the U.S. but some of the cheapest in the globe...[and] governors like Greg Abbott in Texas … are promoting mining."

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he's also looking to lower energy costs with the hopes of attracting bitcoin miners.

Because the industry requires very little beyond an internet connection, the business is incredibly flexible, says Steve Barbour, founder of Upstream Data, a manufacturer and supplier of portable mining solutions for oil and gas facilities.

"[It's] a portable market; you can bring it right to the source of energy," he says.

Other possible global destinations include countries like Kazakhstan which is next door to China. The nation's coal mines offer a low-cost, abundant energy supply and the government has building-friendly policies which make it easy to construct offices quickly.

But what's still not clear is how fast or far "the migration," as it's known in crypto circles, will unfold. Arvanaghi says movement has already begun and "a dramatic shift" should follow in the next few months. His optimism is long-term with the eventual development into a viable business, "It is going to become a real industry in the United States, which is going to be incredible."

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Paramount Leadership Alludes to Layoffs If Merger Does Not Go Through

Paramount is awaiting approval on its merger with Skydance Media from majority shareholder Shari Redstone.

Marketing

6 SEO Tips to Help You Rank in the New Era of Quality Content

What is the best SEO strategy after Google's March 2024 core update? Here's what you need to know.