As Cryptocurrency Mining is becoming an increasingly popular way to acquire digital assets such as Bitcoin (Bitcoin), a national park in eastern Congo decided to use natural resources to mine a major decentralized finance (DeFi) token.
Specifically, Virunga National Park leaders, who have suffered countless misfortunes over the years and are in dire need of funds to protect their forests and wildlife, bitcoin mining An ideal opportunity to MIT Technology Review Adam Popescu report January 13th.
solution comes true
The report says the park, Africa’s oldest protected park and home to the endangered mountain gorilla, has suffered years of militia violence and looting, deforestation, pandemic blockades, Suffering from illness and poor government support, plans to tap into its hydroelectric power were set in motion.for mining Bitcoin for recovery and prosperity.
Park director Emmanuel de Meraude explains:
“We thought of building a power plant and gradually building up a network.[…]Then in 2018, tourism had to stop because of kidnappings. [by rebels]Then in 2019, tourism had to stop because of Ebola. And 2020 — the rest is covid history. In four years, all of our tourism income (previously his 40% of the park’s income) collapsed. (…) This was not what we expected, but we had to find a solution. ”
With this in mind, De Merode and his colleagues came up with the idea of buying a $200,000 Bitcoin rig powered by the park’s hydroelectric energy. This will give you the benefits you need and a viable way to use this energy.
with the help of crypto investor According to Sébastien Gouspillou, the park will purchase second-hand servers in early 2020 to build the world’s first known Bitcoin mine operated by a national park, clean energy.
The mine will use electricity supplied by the Rubiro hydroelectric plant, one of the park’s river hydroelectric plants, which opened in 2013 (a fourth plant is under construction) and has a low environmental impact. It powers bitcoin mining operations. A constant flow of the river instead of blocking it with dams or reservoirs.
does it work?
Despite occasional negative developments, crypto department,Such FTX Collapsewhich has affected the price of Bitcoin, but de Merode is optimistic, pointing out that every day of mining represents pure profit, no matter how much Bitcoin’s value fluctuates. .
According to co-founder Michael Thaler, investment MicroStrategy company Virunga’s model is “an ideal high-tech industry for countries that have abundant clean energy but cannot export their products or provide services with that energy.”
CEO Peter Wall Algo BlockchainIt operates a hydroelectric mine in Quebec. machine, capital. “
Finally, De Merode said it was “an incredibly good investment for the park.” We’re generating it,” Park added, adding that “making bitcoin out of surplus energy and monetizing something otherwise worthless.”