TLDR
- A powerful category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene has left a trail of destruction spanning seven U.S. states.
- CleanSpark's Bitcoin mining processes were disrupted, causing a drop in their hashrate from 28 EH/s down to 10.5 EH/s.
- In a positive development, CleanSpark has managed to bring back 200 MW of power, boosting their hashrate to 22 EH/s.
- The grim death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 137, with many individuals still unaccounted for.
- Since the hurricane's onslaught, Bitcoin's network hashrate has been seesawing between 538 EH/s and 745 EH/s.
Hurricane Helene, with its furious category 4 winds, unleashed havoc over seven U.S. states, playing havoc with millions of homes and businesses, including Bitcoin mining setups.
After making landfall on September 27, the hurricane has led to at least 137 fatalities, with hundreds more still missing.
CleanSpark, a prominent Bitcoin mining company in the U.S., has reported severe interruptions to its operations due to the hurricane.
The company's measure of computational power on the Bitcoin network, known as hashrate, plummeted from 28 EH/s to 10.5 EH/s when they had to shut down 365 MW of power at their southeast Georgia location.
Zach Bradford, CEO of CleanSpark An update on September 30 revealed that the company has made progress by restoring 200 MW of power, elevating their operational hashrate to 22 EH/s.
CleanSpark anticipates regaining the remaining 165 MW by October 4 at the very latest.
Braving the trials presented by Hurricane Helene, Bradford reassured stakeholders that CleanSpark's mining setup sustained no 'significant damage.'
#BREAKING In Asheville, about 100,000 residents might be without water access for weeks following the devastating floods brought by Hurricane Helene's remnants, adding to the already fatal toll of over 103 lives. pic.twitter.com/PPAGMrvdwS
— upuknews (@upuknews1) September 30, 2024
Throughout the turmoil, the company was able to maintain a hashrate over 10.5 EH/s from their other mining sites located in northwest Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
The widespread impact of Hurricane Helene stretches beyond the cryptocurrency mining realm, affecting states such as Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
With winds tearing up to 140 mph, the storm brought about road closures and major flooding, leaving millions without power as recovery efforts proceed.
Following the hurricane's impact, the expansive Bitcoin network's hashrate has seen fluctuations. Crypto mining platform CoinWarz reports that the network's hashrate has shifted between 538 EH/s and 745 EH/s over the past week. CleanSpark's proactive crisis management highlights the tenacity and flexibility of Bitcoin mining operations during natural calamities.
Bradford underscored their preparedness to restore routine operations swiftly as power is progressively reinstated. He also highlighted that the well-being of CleanSpark's team remained a primary focus throughout the crisis.
The effect of Hurricane Helene on Bitcoin mining operations underscores the importance of geographical diversification within the industry. Although CleanSpark's southeast Georgia site bore the brunt, their capacity to maintain operations elsewhere helped cushion the blow to their overall mining capability.
As recovery efforts progress, the full scope of Hurricane Helene's toll on lives and infrastructure continues to unfold.
With a current death count of 137, further increases are anticipated as search and rescue operations extend. The storm has inflicted extensive property damage, with numerous areas suffering from severe flooding and wind destruction.
The narrative around Hurricane Helene serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability all industries, cryptocurrency mining included, face from severe weather events.
As climate change potentially gives rise to more frequent and intense storms, mining operations and various businesses may need to incorporate these risks into their long-term strategies and disaster readiness plans.
The editor-in-chief at Blockonomi and the brains behind UK-Based Kooc Media, Oliver is an advocate for Open-Source Software, Blockchain Technology, and a Free and Fair Internet for everyone.
