Chinese Bitcoin mine in Wyoming sparks security fears over proximity to nuclear missile base and Microsoft data center – as defense experts warn of threat to power grid from similar operations across the US

A China-linked Bitcoin mine in Wyoming is drawing security concerns due to its close proximity to a Microsoft data center and an Air Force base that controls nuclear missiles.

In a confidential August 2022 report to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, Microsoft warned that the mine could allow the Chinese to ‘pursue full-spectrum intelligence collection operations,’ the New York Times reported on Friday.

The Bitcoin operation, which has an opaque web of ownership but is linked to at least one Chinese company, is directly across the street from a secure Microsoft data center that supports the Pentagon, and about a mile away from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, home to the 90th Missile Wing.

Since China‘s ban on Bitcoin mines in 2021, Chinese companies have increasingly looked to the US as a base for the operations, which use buildings full of powerful computers to earn tokens for processing cryptocurrency transactions.

While many mines may simply be moneymaking ventures, their vast computing power and huge energy requirements are raising concerns with defense experts that they could be used for spying, or a coordinated disruption of the electrical grid.

About the Author: Patriotman

Patriotman currently ekes out a survivalist lifestyle in a suburban northeastern state as best as he can. He has varied experience in political science, public policy, biological sciences, and higher education. Proudly Catholic and an Eagle Scout, he has no military experience and thus offers a relatable perspective for the average suburban prepper who is preparing for troubled times on the horizon with less than ideal teams and in less than ideal locations. Brushbeater Store Page: http://bit.ly/BrushbeaterStore