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Volcano Energy Secures $1 Billion for Solar and Wind-Powered Bitcoin Mine in El Salvador

June G. Bauer

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Volcano Energy, in collaboration with Tether and other investors, has announced $1 billion in commitments to establish a 241 MW bitcoin mining site in El Salvador. The mining facility, powered by solar and wind energy, aims to harness renewable resources for sustainable cryptocurrency mining. This groundbreaking initiative marks an important step in El Salvador’s evolving role in the crypto industry.

Volcano Energy unveiled plans to construct a state-of-the-art bitcoin mining site in the Metapán region of El Salvador. The project will leverage 169 MW of solar energy and 72 MW of wind energy, resulting in a computing power of over 1.3 exahash/second (EH/s). By utilizing renewable energy sources, Volcano Energy aims to minimize the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining while maximizing efficiency.

The government of El Salvador will play a vital role in planning and executing the project. Volcano Energy has secured a preferred participation equivalent to 23% of revenues for the government. External investors, including Tether, will own 27% of the venture, while the remaining 50% will be reinvested to expand energy production and mining capabilities. This collaborative approach ensures a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.

While previous mining initiatives in El Salvador have focused on geothermal energy, the connection between the new solar and wind energy park and volcanic activity remains unclear. Volcano Energy envisions this mining site as a stepping stone toward a geothermal future. While details regarding the roadmap are yet to be provided, the project represents a significant stride in leveraging El Salvador’s diverse energy resources.

Tether’s Strategic Investment: Tether, the issuer of stablecoin USDT, is one of the prominent investors supporting Volcano Energy’s groundbreaking initiative. As part of its efforts to diversify its strategic ecosystem, Tether sees the solar and wind-powered bitcoin mine as a pioneering project. Paolo Ardoino, Chief Technology Officer of Tether, stated that this investment aligns with their mission to support innovative developments within the crypto industry.

Exploring Opportunities in New Frontiers: As mining opportunities become limited in North America, companies are seeking investment prospects in regions like Latin America and the Middle East. El Salvador’s commitment to renewable energy and its supportive regulatory environment make it an attractive destination for cryptocurrency mining ventures. Volcano Energy’s project represents a notable investment in El Salvador’s growing crypto ecosystem, paving the way for further developments in the region.

Pop cultureaholic, Technology expert, Web fanatic and a Social media geek. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email her at june@thecoinspost.com or contact her on Twitter @JuneTBauer1

Bitcoin

Telecom Giant Vodafone Bringing Crypto to the Masses Via SIM Cards

June G. Bauer

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The major telecom company Vodafone has unveiled an ambitious plan to integrate cryptocurrency wallets directly into the SIM cards used by mobile phones on its network. This cutting-edge move aims to make blockchain technology and crypto easily accessible to millions of smartphone users worldwide.

What’s Happening?

Vodafone, one of the largest mobile operators based in the UK, intends to combine crypto wallets with the subscriber identity module (SIM) cards inside phones. SIM cards are little chips that allow mobile devices to connect to a carrier’s network.

By embedding a crypto wallet into these ubiquitous SIM cards, Vodafone wants to introduce blockchain and virtual currency technology to the masses through the smartphones we all use daily.

The Bigger Blockchain Picture

This crypto SIM integration is part of Vodafone’s bigger blockchain strategy. The company has developed its own “PairPoint Digital Asset Broker” platform to enable secure digital identities and transactions across different blockchains.

Vodafone’s blockchain lead David Palmer emphasized in an interview that mobile phones are the main way billions access digital services and commerce. So partnering blockchain with SIM card tech is crucial for widespread adoption.

By 2023, there will be over 8 billion mobile phones in use globally. And estimates suggest crypto wallets on smartphones could reach 5.6 billion by 2030 as digital money goes mainstream.

Financial Restructuring

The crypto wallet announcement comes as Vodafone seeks to restructure its finances and raise billions in new funds through debt offerings and loans over the next couple years.

The company plans to take on $2.9 billion in total debt, including $1.8 billion in direct loans. Some of this financial overhaul relates to issues at Vodafone’s Indian subsidiary Vodafone Idea Ltd.

While navigating these monetary hurdles, Vodafone still sees major opportunities in emerging technologies like blockchain and aims to be an innovator helping drive mainstream crypto adoption through the SIM card strategy.

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No Evidence of Hack, Says Bitfinex CTO Amid Ransomware Gang’s Allegations

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In the world of cybersecurity, claims of data breaches can cause significant concern and speculation. Recently, a ransomware group named FSOCIETY claimed to have successfully hacked several organizations, including the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex. However, Bitfinex’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Paolo Ardoino, has dismissed these rumors, stating that a thorough analysis of their systems revealed no evidence of a breach.

According to Ardoino, who is also the CEO of Tether, less than 25% of the email addresses allegedly stolen from Bitfinex’s servers match legitimate users. This casts doubt on the validity of FSOCIETY’s claims regarding the supposed hack.

The ransomware group, styled after the fictional hacking group from the TV show “Mr. Robot,” claimed to have breached several victims, including Rutgers University, consulting firm SBC Global, and a cryptocurrency exchange they referred to as “Coinmoma,” which is likely a misspelling of Coinmama.

Ardoino expressed skepticism about the group’s claims, stating that if they had indeed hacked Bitfinex, they would have demanded a ransom through the exchange’s bug bounty program, customer support channels, emails, or social media accounts. However, Bitfinex received no such requests from FSOCIETY.

Furthermore, Ardoino shared a message from a security researcher suggesting that the real motivation behind the alleged hacks might be to promote FSOCIETY’s ransomware tools, which they reportedly sell access to in exchange for a subscription fee and a commission on stolen profits. Ardoino questioned the group’s need to sell their tools for $299 if they had truly hacked a major exchange like Bitfinex.

It’s worth noting that Bitfinex has previously fallen victim to a significant hack in 2016, resulting in the theft of a substantial amount of Bitcoin. Two individuals, including crypto rapper ‘Razzlekhan,’ pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in connection with that incident.

Hacking group FSOCIETY published claims

While the claims made by FSOCIETY have yet to be verified by the alleged victims, Bitfinex’s CTO remains firm in his stance that no breach has occurred. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, it is crucial for organizations to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect their systems and users’ data.

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Indian Police Seize 268 Bitcoins Worth $17 Million in Crypto Bust

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Indian authorities have seized a large sum of bitcoins from a resident of Haldwani, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. The seized cryptocurrency stash of 268 bitcoins is worth around $17 million at current prices.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), a law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes, carried out the bitcoin seizure. They arrested Parvinder Singh from his home in Haldwani after a raid prompted by information from US authorities.

Singh is allegedly part of an international drug trafficking syndicate called “The Singh Organization.” The criminal group used dark web marketplaces like Silk Road to sell drugs in the US, UK and other European countries.

To hide their illegal activities, the syndicate laundered the drùg money by converting it into bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies. ED officials said Singh and his associates received around 8,488 bitcoins over the years from their drùg sales on the dark web.

The bitcoin seizure was a rare collaboration between Indian and US law enforcement agencies. American officials have been investigating Singh and his accomplice Banmeet Singh for their roles in the international drùg cartel.

Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are popular among criminals due to the anonymity they provide. However, this case shows authorities are getting better at tracing illegal crypto transactions and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests and seizures are expected as officials unravel the entire money laundering operation of The Singh Organization.

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