Inaugurated three years ago, Bitriver is the largest data center in the former Soviet Union. It has won clients from all around the world for its Bitcoin mining ability. Based around the city Bratsk’s aluminum plant, alongside a hydropower plant, conditions are very favorable for crypto mining. Also, the cold Siberian climate with its long and cold winters makes it an ideal spot for data centers.
As of now, the data center has about 25,000 devices with available slots to increase the number right away. But how did the idea come into place?
Billionaire Oleg Deripaska and his team thought of a data center in Bratsk years ago. Considering the fact that conditions were favorable for data centers in this particular region, it wasn’t a surprise that such a thing could pop up sooner than later.
Although Russia doesn’t recognize crypto mining, Bitriver isn’t specifically engaged in the mining itself and is only an equipment provider at the data center. Also, technical services are also provided by the company itself implying that the business is legal.
The route wasn’t easy though. Deripaska’s companies had to reach an agreement with the U.S treasury to cut his control, which took about a year. If sanctions were to continue, it became a difficult situation for crypto miners. But things look smooth for the company now and in the future.
100 megawatts of power to Bitriver are supplied by En+ to diversify the client base and sell excess energy. This is the chief ingredient for cryptocurrency mining. They both have a joint venture providing computer racks to miners.