Fort Worth, Texas, became the first U.S. city to mine Bitcoin, launching a pilot program in April 2022. The city council unanimously approved the initiative, which involved operating three Bitmain Antminer S9 mining rigs, donated by the Texas Blockchain Council, 24/7 in the climate-controlled IT wing of City Hall. Each rig, valued at about $600-$2,100, consumes energy comparable to a household vacuum cleaner, with costs expected to be offset by mined Bitcoin.
The six-month trial aimed to position Fort Worth as a tech-friendly hub, not primarily for profit but to gain experience in blockchain technology and attract crypto-related businesses. Mayor Mattie Parker emphasized innovation, stating, “Fort Worth is where the future begins.” By August 2023, the city continued running a single, more energy-efficient machine, generating significant media attention—over 752 million web impressions—but minimal financial returns due to the small scale and a cooling crypto market.
The initiative faced criticism for energy use in Texas’s fragile grid, though the city maintained its low environmental impact. After the trial, Fort Worth assessed expanding the program, aiming to establish itself as a crypto mining leader in Texas, a state already dominant in global Bitcoin mining post-China’s 2021 crypto ban.
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Fort Worth’s program positions the city as a forward-thinking hub for blockchain technology, potentially attracting crypto-related businesses, startups, and investment. By embracing Bitcoin mining, the city signals openness to emerging technologies, which could spur economic growth and job creation in tech sectors. The Texas Blockchain Council’s involvement underscores Texas’s broader ambition to dominate the U.S. crypto mining landscape, leveraging its cheap energy and business-friendly policies.
Bitcoin mining is energy-intensive, and even though Fort Worth’s pilot uses minimal power (three rigs equivalent to household appliances), scaling up could strain Texas’s already fragile electrical grid, as seen during 2021’s winter storm outages. Critics argue that public resources should prioritize energy stability over speculative tech ventures, especially in a state prone to power shortages.
As the first U.S. city to mine Bitcoin, Fort Worth sets a precedent for municipal involvement in cryptocurrency. Success could inspire other cities to follow, integrating blockchain into public finance or operations. However, failure—due to market volatility or high costs—could deter others, framing municipal crypto ventures as risky or impractical.
The pilot’s modest financial returns (due to small scale and a bearish crypto market in 2022-2023) suggest that profitability isn’t the primary goal. Instead, it’s a learning opportunity for cities to explore digital assets as alternative revenue streams or hedges against inflation, especially as Bitcoin’s value fluctuates (e.g., ~$20,000 in 2022 vs. ~$60,000 in early 2025).
The program’s high media attention (752 million web impressions by August 2023) boosts public awareness of cryptocurrency but also risks skepticism if tangible benefits (e.g., revenue or jobs) don’t materialize. It could normalize crypto in civic contexts or deepen distrust among those wary of its volatility and environmental impact.
Proponents (e.g., Texas Blockchain Council, Mayor Parker) see Bitcoin mining as an economic opportunity, leveraging Texas’s energy abundance (notably renewables like wind) and deregulated markets. They view it as a hedge against fiat currency devaluation and a driver of tech innovation.
Skeptics highlight environmental risks, citing Bitcoin’s global energy consumption (estimated at 150 TWh annually, comparable to Argentina’s total usage). They argue public funds shouldn’t support speculative ventures, especially with Texas’s grid issues and crypto’s association with scams or instability.
Fort Worth’s urban experiment contrasts with rural Texas areas hosting large-scale commercial mining operations (e.g., Rockdale’s Riot Blockchain facility). Urban adoption may focus on innovation and branding, while rural areas prioritize economic boosts from mining farms, creating different stakes in crypto’s growth.
Texas’s Republican-led policies (e.g., Governor Abbott’s pro-crypto stance) contrast with more cautious or anti-crypto sentiments in Democrat-leaning states like New York, which banned certain mining practices in 2022 over environmental concerns. Fort Worth’s move aligns with Texas’s deregulatory ethos, deepening the red-blue state divide on crypto policy.
Crypto mining could exacerbate inequality if only well-resourced cities or regions (with access to cheap energy and tech infrastructure) can participate. Smaller municipalities or those in energy-constrained states may be left behind, widening the digital and economic gap.
Fort Worth’s public-sector mining contrasts with private companies dominating the space. This raises questions about whether taxpayer-funded initiatives should compete with private firms or focus on regulation and oversight instead.
Fort Worth’s Bitcoin mining experiment is a bold step toward integrating cryptocurrency into municipal governance, with potential to drive innovation and economic growth. However, it amplifies divides over energy use, economic priorities, and crypto’s role in public policy. Its success or failure could shape whether other cities follow suit or retreat from such ventures, influencing the broader trajectory of municipal crypto adoption in the U.S.