Category: mining

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ioRadio #35: Can Bitcoin Help Renewable Energy?

In this episode, I speak with a solar energy company founder about why he’s into Bitcoin and how he thinks it helps the renewable energy industry. We touch on a number of topics including his argument for a best example of why crypto does something better than existing tech. Do you believe he’s right? Does crypto do something positive for the renewable energy industry?

Alex and I spoke for quite awhile. I ended up slightly editing the conversation taking the end part and inserting it at about the 1:20 mark, and then leaving the second half, which is about 2 hours, as an extra segment for anybody who wants to keep listening.

Part 2 is here:

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IORADIO #20 – Does Decentralization Make Any Sense?

Do you have questions about decentralization? We do.

When cryptobros invoke its name, bagholders of all tokens bow their heads and mutter a prayer to Our Lord Nakamoto, but why is it so important to them?

The blasphemy of centralization is a curse to true believers, but are these the crazed rantings of religious zealots, or have the The Chosen People discovered the word of a digital Prophet?

Does decentralization offer the faithless hearts of heretical nocoiners digital salvation or does it pull the guileless and the gullible into the waiting arms of damnation?

Does it make things better? How important is it? And does it actually apply to blockchain and cryptocurrency?

On this episode of IORADIO we’re out to chew bubble gum and destroy talking points, and we’re all outta bubble gum! Adam and Sal kick away crypto propagandists’ most beloved crutch: decentralization.

LISTEN HERE:

WATCH HERE:

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IORADIO #6 – Is Texas a Crypto Welfare State? – Interview with Jackie Sawicky of the Texas Coalition Against Crypto Mining

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Is Texas a crypto welfare state? We often hear that the crypto mining industry is good for the economy and the energy business. In IO Radio #5 we reacted to a propaganda video claiming that Riot and other crypto miners were good for Texas, but what do local citizens think?

American Scream and I talk to Jackie Sawicky – founder of the Texas Coalition Against Crypto Mining – her organization has boots on the ground in Navarro county and is trying to educate people about the lies and misinformation being spread about mining facilities being built and operated in Texas.

What’s at stake when a mining operation moves next door? According to Jackie it’s much more than you think. Communities are being exploited and people’s lives are are put at risk while municipalities give away electricity to private corporations who sell it back to the public at a huge profit.

Listen to the shocking story of what’s happened to the small rural Texas communities who’ve had bitcoin mining come to their front door, and ask yourself if government should be in the business of subsidizing the crypto industry.

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IORADIO #5 – We React To “Dear Elizabeth Warren” – A Bitcoin Propaganda Film

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There appears to be a sizable amount of resources being pumped into producing these pro-Bitcoin propaganda films. This one was released recently, making some serious claims about Senator Elizabeth Warren and whether Bitcoin is in fact good for energy production instead of being criminally wasteful.

Now you can see both sides as we react to this new video. My apologies if the audio levels are a bit wonky on this – I made some mistakes during the recording and hopefully fixed them as best I could (and will do better for future episodes).

Additional details:

Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index – https://ccaf.io/cbnsi/cbeci

Petition opposing Bitcoin Mining by the Concerned Citizens of Navarro County – https://www.change.org/p/no-to-riot-bitcoin-mine-in-navarro-county.