Fort Worth Is Mining Bitcoin in City Hall, Mayor Wants to Transform Region Into a Tech-Friendly City

On Tuesday, Fort Worth Mayor Matty Parker and Fort Worth announced that the city has become the first bitcoin mining city government in the United States. According to the announcement, the city of Fort Worth has partnered with the Texas Blockchain Council to begin mining the cryptocurrency.

The City of Fort Worth begins mining bitcoins 24/7 using 3 ASIC machines

Starting today, the City of Fort Worth, Texas began 24/7 bitcoin mining at the Information Technology Department’s Climate Data Center located in the Fort Worth City Hall building. The announcement was made by city officials and Mayor Matty Parker. Fort Worth government officials explained that the miners would be privately housed to limit security vulnerabilities.

Fort Worth said Bitmain brand S9 bitcoin mining machines were donated by the nonprofit Texas Blockchain Council. Three ASIC machines were donated by Texas Blockchain Council, and if the city “achieves the goals of responsibly evaluating and implementing a municipal bitcoin mining program,” it plans to “evaluate the program after that.”

“As blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies revolutionize the financial landscape, we want to make Fort Worth a technology-friendly city,” Parker explained in a statement sent to Bitcoin.com News. “Today, with the support and partnership of the Texas Blockchain Council, we are entering this world on a small scale while sending a big message – Fort Worth is the place where the future begins.”

The mayor of Fort Worth added:

These small but powerful machines signify Fort Worth’s ambition to become a leading center for technology and innovation.

Fort Worth’s 3 ASICs will consume as much power as a household vacuum cleaner

Fort Worth’s move comes at a time when U.S. bureaucrats and regulators are concerned about bitcoin mining, and some politicians have drafted bills (NY-A.7389C / S.6486C.) to impose a moratorium on mining. Amidst the scrutiny, the cryptocurrency mining industry has become much more efficient over the past 12 months and has a much smaller environmental impact.

A recent reportby the Bitcoin Mining Council shows that bitcoin’s electricity consumption decreased by 25% in the first quarter. According to a study conducted by the City of Fort Worth, three machines will use “as much energy as a household vacuum cleaner.”

“The nominal amount of energy required for the program is expected to be offset by the value of the bitcoin mined,” the Fort Worth report explains. “The small size of the pilot program allows the city to explore the potential impact and capabilities of bitcoin,” the city added. Robert Stearns, Fort Worth’s director of economic development, detailed that Texas is a pioneer in cryptocurrency and blockchain.

“Texas is increasingly recognized as a global leader in bitcoin and blockchain, and Fort Worth will have a seat at that table,” Sterns said during the announcement. “The pioneering spirit is alive and well in Fort Worth, and through this program we will attract dynamic companies that share this vision for the future.”

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