Bitmain Gets Go-Ahead for US Bitcoin Mining Operation

China's crypto mining giant, Bitmain, is one step closer to establishing mining facilities in Washington state.

The Port of Walla Walla - Walla Walla county's economic development agency - unanimously approved a land lease and purchase option that would allow Bitmain to build its new crypto mining facility.

Bitmain has yet to publicly acknowledge the company as a subsidiary, but publicly available company registration information lists Bitmain CEO Jihan Wu as Ant Creek's sole governing person, as previously reported.

According to the Union Bulletin, Jeff Stearns, the company's director, described Ant Creek during the hearing as both a blockchain company and an artificial intelligence company headed by two different CEOs.

Without specifying Bitmain, he reportedly characterized the company as the largest global manufacturer of crypto mining equipment.

Walla Walla residents voiced concerns over the amount of energy the company would extract from the community, which has some of the cheapest electricity rates in North America.

Crypto mining companies have been quick to flock to regions with energy surpluses and inexpensive rates, but they are increasingly being met with resistance from locals.

Elsewhere in Washington state, officials announced a moratorium on new crypto mining operations in order to consider their effect on the community's power grid.

The Mason County officials followed Washington's Chelan County in instituting temporary freezes on new mining operations.

The government of the Canadian province of Quebec recently instructed utility firm Hydro-Quebec to halt its consideration of service applications from mining companies due to overwhelming demand.