In Wenatchee, Wash., a bitcoin invasion is under way. Home to hydroelectric dams that harness the flow of the Columbia River, north central Washington has some of the cheapest power in the U.S. That has made the largely rural area best known for its apple orchards a magnet for bitcoin miners, who use powerful specialized computers to generate...
A rural area in the North of Washington state has attracted an increasing number of bitcoin miners, due to the availability of cheap electricity. Wenatchee, a small town with a population of more than 50 people, has become a hub for bitcoin miners, putting strain on local energy supplies. The local utility company for Chelan County is receiving huge requests from cryptocurrency miners, with four received in the last six months being for 100 MW – enough to supply just 34,000 hospitals. Other residents and businesses are concerned that the boom could now lead to rising prices.