Largest batch of ASIC miners imported into Russia

In December 2020, BitRiver, the data centre operator, imported into Russia from Asia a batch of more than 20,000 ASIC miners with a total capacity of around 70 MW. Representatives of the project told ForkLog.

All equipment belongs to a single client — a foreign company, the name of which is not disclosed. Specifically for it, they opened a separate hangar as an isolated Tier-III data centre.

The exact quantity and specifications of the imported equipment at BitRiver were not disclosed. It is known that among the miners were WhatsMiner M32 devices from MicroBT.

BitRiver called this delivery the largest one-time deal in mining history.

“Russia’s share of the industry is growing. In the last year it has grown by at least 4%. If you add to this figure our latest public deal, the figure would rise by a little over 1%”, — said BitRiver CEO Igor Runets in an interview with ForkLog.

In 2021 the company plans to launch several more data centres in Russia, for example in Mukhorshibiri in Buryatia. The authorities of the republic have already approved construction.

Runets expects a more permissive regulation of mining in Russia.

“Mining can be compared to a sawmill that produces lumber. No one would think of banning sawmill products. Crypto assets under CFA are property, a commodity that, logically, can be produced”, added he.

Earlier, the American provider Core Scientific signed a contract with Bitmain to purchase more than 76,000 ASIC miners, and Marathon agreed with Bitmain on the purchase of 70,000 Antminer S19.

In November, BitRiver announced a partnership with the aluminium and hydroelectricity producer En+ Group to create a cryptocurrency mining venture.

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