In terms of total hash rate, Russia made it to the world top 3. This was possible thanks to the cold climate and relatively inexpensive electricity. These factors have made BitCluster popular with clients who left China after the tightening of laws. The mining farm in Norilsk earns more than $100 thousand on bitcoins and is gradually increasing capacity so that more people can move ASICs to this city.
BitCluster company information
The Russian organization offers customers ready-made solutions in the field of cryptocurrency mining. In June 2017, the company appeared on the domestic market, building several farms in the Ivanovo and Krasnoyarsk regions, Khanty-Mansiysk, Angarsk, and Bratsk. The BitCluster project is a member of the Russian Association of Cryptoindustry and Blockchain (RAKIB) and in 2019 became a prize winner in one of the Blockchain Life Award nominations.
BitCluster offers infrastructure for hosting hardware and also sells devices. The online store offers more than 10 integrated circuits for Bitcoin mining. For large clients, the company provides consulting services and offers unique solutions.
In Khanty-Mansiysk, a hoster created an unusual data center that gets electricity by flaring gas. Previously it was simply utilized, but now it is used to power ASICs.
Where the mining farm is located
The data center is built in the Krasnoyarsk region, more specifically, in Norilsk – a cold northern city. This place has long been considered by the company’s management because it is perfect for creating industrial farms. Thanks to the climate and the low cost of electricity, the asic hotel remains “afloat” even during the cryptozyme.
BitCluster chose an abandoned factory, closed in 2016, for the location of a mining farm in Norilsk. The territory of Nornickel is advantageous in that it has its own power unit to partially meet the needs of the data center.
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Advantages of locating a mining farm in Norilsk
Most large data centers are located in cold regions remote from megacities. The main advantage of this approach is saving on building rent, electricity, and cooling.
In winter, the temperature drops below -40 degrees Celsius, making the city one of the coldest communities. In the case of mining, this eliminates unnecessary cooling costs. A passive ventilation system with Arctic air works just as well as a lot of coolers.
In addition, energy is cheaper in Norilsk than in other regions. In 2022, BitCluster sold a kW of electricity for only 5.4 rubles. The price includes equipment maintenance and 24/7 tech support.
The principle of operation of a mining farm
The company provides resources for the installation of devices – it does not mine tokens itself, but is engaged in hosting. BitCluster mining farm maintains optimal conditions for safe and trouble-free operation of asics. The company guarantees the safety of the equipment, so it responsibly treated the arrangement of the data center and the selection of personnel. Features:
- Stable power supply.
- Copper cables designed for high current capacity and its sharp spikes.
- Industrial-type cooling system to remove heated air.
- Uninterrupted access to the Internet with optical lines from different providers.
- Air humidity control to prevent condensation on chips.
- Remote management of the farm through a personal cabinet.
- Fire protection.
The mining farm in Norilsk has round-the-clock security, and the territory can be entered only with a pass. Asics are serviced by employees from Russia, USA, China, who have been trained at the Bitmain school.
To use the hosting services, the client needs to sign a contract and pay monthly maintenance fees for the machines. The user will be able to independently choose the coin to be mined in the personal cabinet.
View from the inside
Bitcoin farm in Norilsk is located in several decommissioned containers for fruit transportation. Each can accommodate up to 360 Antminer S19 asics. In total, the company planned to place the devices in 11 boxes after increasing the power to 31mW.
A shipping container is a great option for a mining farm. It is inexpensive and safe to set up a farm in it, as it is possible to create powerful ventilation, and the walls do not retain heat well.
Crypto farm capacity
Initially, the farm in Norilsk was designed for 11.2mW of electricity. In 2021, the company expanded the power grid to 31 mW. This infrastructure is enough to install more than 3 thousand Bitmain Antminer L7 ASICs.
Author: Saifedean Ammous, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.