Jack Dorsey’s Block Adds Funding to Kenyan BTC Mining Firm Gridless

Amid the bear market sentiment, many industry players have been trying to take advantage by investing in crypto mining.

Advertisement
Written by Radhika Parashar, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 7 December 2022 17:28 IST
Highlights
  • Gridless operates in rural parts of Africa
  • Jack Dorsey’s Block aims to associate itself with green crypto mining
  • Crypto mining is a power intensive process

BTC miners lost over $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,200 crore) during the recent crypto crash

Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Executium

The global network of crypto miners witnessed a major downfall in their operations and revenues, after recent months saw the crypto market toppling head over heels. In a fresh development, Jack Dorsey has added funding to help an East African Bitcoin mining company, Gridless, to expand its green operations. Block co-led the funding round of $2 million (roughly Rs. 16 crore), alongside venture capital investor Stillmark. Since crypto mining is largely a power-intensive process, it is often criticised for not being clean and environment friendly.

Operating on small scale energy grids in the rural parts of Africa, Gridless is backed on renewable energy.

“Gridless represents a close strategic alignment with our vision of ensuring the Bitcoin network increasingly leverages clean energy, in combination with Bitcoin computational centres around the world. This work can support to secure the distributed infrastructure behind Bitcoin's monetary ecosystem,” Thomas Templeton, Lead for BTC mining and Wallet at Block.

Advertisement

Despite the market fluctuations, the international BTC mining industry increased the use of sustainable energy by 52.2 percent in the first quarter of this year, a report by the Bitcoin Mining Council noted.

As per a Bloomberg report, Bitcoin miners lost over $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,200 crore) during the recent crypto crash.

Among other issues plaguing the crypto mining sector, the power costs in several parts of the world rose in recent times slashing operations.

The profit margins for crypto miners also shrunk after majority cryptocurrencies tumbled down in prices.

Amid the bear market sentiment, many industry players have been trying to take an advantage by investing in crypto mining.

Advertisement

In July, crypto asset management firm Grayscale said it was hoping to expand infrastructure for crypto firms.

Advertisement

US' Kentucky state is also investigating two contracts, that propose to provide electricity to BTC miners at discounted rates, to check if subsidising crypto mining operations would spike up the electricity costs for state dwellers and cause them financial inconvenience.


What are the best smartphones you can buy in India in 2022? These are the phones we think stood out the most this year Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 

Also seeCryptocurrency Prices across Indian exchanges

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Top Deals on Premium Smartphones
  2. OTT Releases of the Week (Jan 12 - Jan 18): Taskaree, 120 Bahadur, and More
  3. iQOO Z11 Turbo With 200-Megapixel Camera Arrives in China at This Price
  4. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale Is Live: Best Offers Today
  5. Redmi Note 15 Pro, Note 15 Pro+ 5G Could Launch in India on This Date
  6. iPhone 18 Pro Series, iPhone Fold Could Launch With These Specifications
  7. Tecno Spark Go 3 With 5,000mAh Battery Launched in India at This Price
  8. Here's When the Motorola Signature Will Launch in India
  9. Redmi Buds 8 Lite Launched With ANC, Up to 36 Hours Total Battery Life
  10. iPhone Fold to Feature More Durable Hinge Built Using Liquid Metal
  1. Redmi Note 15 Pro, Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G India Launch Date Reportedly Leaked
  2. Top Deals on Echo and Fire TV Devices During Amazon Great Republic Day Sale
  3. iPhone Fold, iPhone 18 Pro Series Said to Launch With A20 Pro Chip; Camera and Display Specifications Leaked
  4. MediaTek Announces Dimensity 9500s Flagship Chipset, Rival to Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and Dimensity 8500 Midrange Chipset
  5. Tecno Spark Go 3 Launched in India With 5,000mAh Battery, 13-Megapixel Camera: Price, Specifications
  6. Square Enix Confirms New Life Is Strange Game for 2026; Full Reveal on January 20
  7. iPhone Fold to Feature More Durable Hinge Built Using Liquid Metal Material, Tipster Claims
  8. Redmi Buds 8 Lite Launched With ANC, 12.4mm Drivers, Up to 36 Hours Total Battery Life: Price, Features
  9. Realme 16 5G Specifications Leak via Retailer Listing; to Feature Dimensity 6400 Chipset
  10. NASA Says the Year 2025 Almost Became Earth's Hottest Recorded Year Ever
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.