The Mining Pod | Bitcoin Mining News

What started as a technical proposal has exploded into community division, with accusations of "destroying Bitcoin" flying around. The hosts break down what OP_RETURN is, why some devs want to increase its size limit, and why others view it as enabling "spam" on the blockchain. At its core, this fight reveals deeper tensions about who controls Bitcoin's future and what the network should be used for. Notes: - OP_RETURN limit currently set at 83 bytes - Proposal would increase limit to ~1 megabyte - 30-45% of Bitcoin transactions are "non-financial" - Bitcoin Knots node usage has grown to 7-8% - Out-of-band transactions bypass node relay - Core devs facing diminished community trust Timestamps: 00:00:00:00 Start 00:00:36:16 Why's everyone so mad? 00:02:04:14 Claim your bias 00:04:00:03 The backstory 00:08:27:09 Changing the OP_RETRUN limit 00:11:24:06 Post to relax the limit 00:15:39:23 Out of Band payment 00:17:39:06 Standard vs valid consensus 00:19:52:29 What is spam? 00:28:41:05 Arch Network 00:29:13:14 Cons of increasing the limit 00:32:34:25 That's too "woke" bro! 00:35:56:27 Knots - 👉 Brought t o you by Arch Network! Arch brings the speed of Solana & the best of crypto UX to Bitcoin. Tap into the rich app ecosystem on Arch & try out the testnet while you’re still early! Visit arch.network to learn more. - 👋Bitcoin Season 2 is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Greer from Crucible Capital joins to discuss the shifting landscape of GPU financing and hosting. He dives into the implications of Bitcoin’s rising hashrate and the recent drop in GPU rental prices. The conversation highlights Antalpha’s impressive IPO valuation of $250-300 million and the impact of potential tariffs on ASIC miners. Bitfarms’ strategic shift to focus on high-performance computing and AI infrastructure reveals a trend in the industry’s direction. Join them as they unravel the complexities of these evolving markets!

Masih Alavi, CEO of ViraMiner, sheds light on Iran's unique Bitcoin mining scene. He reveals that only 5 MW of mining is legal while a staggering 2 GW operates illegally, often in hidden locations like basements and jewelry shops. Alavi discusses how outdated equipment still proves profitable for citizens navigating harsh sanctions. He explains the Iranian government's discouraging policies that push miners underground and the ingenious strategies they employ to continue mining while avoiding detection.

Arizona is racing to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve, with two bills poised for governor approval. The discussion highlights Texas's cautious approach and New Hampshire's legislative efforts. With 40 bills on the table nationwide, the competition is fierce, but several initiatives face political hurdles. Notably, Oklahoma's bill narrowly failed, showcasing the challenges in advancing Bitcoin legislation. The conversation uncovers the complexities of state investment strategies in Bitcoin and the varying regulatory landscapes across the U.S.

Khan Fiharani, a research associate at Luxor and Hashrate Index, shares insights on Bitcoin mining dynamics. The discussion highlights Tether's $25M investment in AntAlpha and Galaxy's expansion with CoreWeave, amassing 393MW. Fiharani delves into Bitcoin's electricity use, currently at 0.5% of global consumption, and the imminent effects of the 2024 halving, including a projected 40% difficulty spike. The episode wraps up with a heated debate on the OP_RETURN limit, touching on its implications for data use and governance in the Bitcoin space.

In this discussion, Christian Lopez, the Head of Digital Assets at Cohen and Company Capital Markets, dives into the complexities of Bitcoin mining's capital market landscape. He reveals a staggering 1.5GW of mining sites for sale and explains why private miners are facing financial hurdles. The potential impact of tariffs on operational costs is dissected, while the conversation also touches on how mining stocks are behaving differently from Bitcoin prices. Lopez highlights the intricate relationship between Bitcoin miners and institutional investors, underscoring a shift in funding priorities.

We jump on the podcast to discuss Spain's and Portugal's historic blackout event, with over 10 GW of missing energy on the Iberia Peninsula. FILL OUT THE MINING POD SURVEY BY CLICKING HERE: https://forms.gle/DFpR9MyhWo1NQ8T39 Published twice weekly, "The Mining Pod" interviews the best builders and operators in the Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining landscape. Subscribe to get notifications when we publish interviews on Tuesday and a news show on Friday! Apple https://apple.co/3fNfrdi Spotify https://tinyurl.com/3cmz3jkc Anchor https://tinyurl.com/yckv8t7p RSS https://bit.ly/3chpULV Newsletter https://miningpod.blockspace.media/ 👉 Fractal Bitcoin, Reduces up to 50% of your pool fee. No new hardware, no extra energy. And it’s easy. FB rewards go straight to your existing Bitcoin wallet address. Over 50% of Bitcoin’s hashpower is already merge mining Fractal. Get more from the same resources — start on Fractal today! 👉 @Luxor, Luxor, Leaders In Bitcoin Mining and Compute Power! Get game-changing mining results with Luxor Firmware. Boost hashrate, cut energy costs, protect your hardware, and maximize mining profits with LuxOS. Questions or want to get in contact? 👉 hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We jump on the podcast to discuss Spain's and Portugal's historic blackout event, with over 10 GW of missing energy on the Iberia Peninsula. FILL OUT THE MINING POD SURVEY BY CLICKING HERE: https://forms.gle/DFpR9MyhWo1NQ8T39 Published twice weekly, "The Mining Pod" interviews the best builders and operators in the Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining landscape. Subscribe to get notifications when we publish interviews on Tuesday and a news show on Friday! Apple https://apple.co/3fNfrdi Spotify https://tinyurl.com/3cmz3jkc Anchor https://tinyurl.com/yckv8t7p RSS https://bit.ly/3chpULV Newsletter https://miningpod.blockspace.media/ 👉 Fractal Bitcoin, Reduces up to 50% of your pool fee. No new hardware, no extra energy. And it’s easy. FB rewards go straight to your existing Bitcoin wallet address. Over 50% of Bitcoin’s hashpower is already merge mining Fractal. Get more from the same resources — start on Fractal today! 👉 @Luxor, Luxor, Leaders In Bitcoin Mining and Compute Power! Get game-changing mining results with Luxor Firmware. Boost hashrate, cut energy costs, protect your hardware, and maximize mining profits with LuxOS. Questions or want to get in contact? 👉 hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Delve into the latest Bitcoin mining news, including a surprising 8% difficulty drop and a rebound in fee revenue. Discover the shocking theft of $2.7 million worth of outdated mining equipment intercepted at LAX. The hosts debate tariffs affecting ASIC imports and how customs gaming may play a role. Finally, enjoy a lively discussion on the top five historical moments in Bitcoin mining, with strong opinions on the significance of mining pools. Get ready for a mix of insights and spirited exchanges!

FILL OUT THE MINING POD SURVEY BY CLICKING HEREWelcome back to The Mining Pod! Welcome back to The Mining Pod! Today, Valentin Rousseau (a.k.a as Muad Dib on X), a bitcoin mining researcher who's worked with Hash Labs and the University of Cambridge, joins us to discuss his Blockspace report on hashrate forecasting for 2025, 2026, and 2027. Valentin breaks down his methodology for predicting Bitcoin's hashrate trajectory, analyzes hashrate deployment schedules for public miners, unpacks how tariffs could slow U.S. hashrate growth – and thus the Bitcoin network’s growth as well, and answers the question: will we still see 1 zetahash in 2025? You're listening to The Mining Pod. Subscribe to the newsletter, trusted by over 12,000 Bitcoiners: https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com# Notes:- Projected ~1000 EH/s by end of 2025- Forecast: 1700 EH/s by end of 2027- Public miners = 37% of global hashrate- US tariffs reduced 2025 forecast by 60 EH/s- Private miners leading international expansion- ASIC prices flattened since 2022 crashTimestamps:00:00 Start02:27 2025 Mining Outlook06:28 Public miner success rate08:30 2026 & 2027 Outlook11:27 Hashrate prediction 202713:59 Accounting for tariffs16:14 US domestic vs International17:10 Private vs public hashrate20:06 Machine purchases24:34 Greenfield vs Brownfield sites29:34 Map of US hashrate31:54 Hashrate averages35:57 Wrap up49:29 Vibe shift👉 Fractal Bitcoin, Reduces up to 50% of your pool fee. No new hardware, no extra energy.And it’s easy. FB rewards go straight to your existing Bitcoin wallet address. Over 50% of Bitcoin’s hashpower is already merge mining Fractal. Get more from the same resources — start on Fractal today!👉 Luxor, Leaders In Bitcoin Mining and Compute Power!Get game-changing mining results with Luxor Firmware. Boost hashrate, cut energy costs, protect your hardware, and maximize mining profits with LuxOS.Published twice weekly, "The Mining Pod" interviews the best builders and operators in theBitcoin and Bitcoin mining landscape. Subscribe to get notifications when we publish interviewson Tuesday and a news show on Friday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices