CoinDesk Podcast Network BITCOIN SEASON 2: Tether on RGB, finding UAE's $700mm in btc, and USGox data on Bitcoin
Aug 30, 2025
Discover the UAE's secret $700 million Bitcoin mining operation and its advanced technology tailored for the desert. Explore the U.S. government's groundbreaking move to publish macroeconomic data on blockchains using Chainlink. Delve into Tether's strategic return to Bitcoin, highlighting its integration with the RGB protocol. The discussion also reveals fascinating insights into nation-state mining strategies and the quirky characters behind these developments.
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UAE’s $700M Bitcoin Mine Revealed
- Arkham Research traced a UAE mining operation worth about $700 million to a wallet tied to Citadel and Phoenix Group.
- Nation-states like the UAE and Bhutan are quietly stacking Bitcoin by monetizing surplus energy via mining partnerships.
Energy Surplus Drives State Bitcoin Stacks
- Nations with surplus energy partner with mining firms to convert excess energy into Bitcoin holdings.
- Bhutan and the UAE exemplify how sovereign actors can amass large BTC positions through mining.
U.S. Posts Macroeconomic Data To Blockchains
- The U.S. government published macroeconomic data hashes to multiple blockchains using Chainlink.
- Botanix (a Bitcoin L2) receives a hash, linking U.S. data provenance to Bitcoin via Chainlink.