Riot Platforms ends August on a positive note, thanks to Texas

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Posted: September 7, 2023

Net proceeds from Bitcoin sales totaled $8.6 million, down 29% from July.
Despite the drop in production, Riot held 7,309 BTC, reflecting no change from the previous month.

Riot Platforms, Inc., a major player in Bitcoin [BTC] mining sector and data center hosting issued the production updates for August 2023.

Interestingly, in August 2023, Riot earned $31.7 million in energy credits from Texas power grid operator ERCOT by voluntarily cutting energy use during a heat wave, raising the value of the 333 Bitcoins it mined to approximately $8.9 million. was surpassed.

To alleviate stress on the power grid, Riot, like other Bitcoin miners, partnered with ERCOT to limit power consumption during peak demand. Texas favored the mining industry through energy credits, although a bill to end these credits in 2023 failed to pass. Instead, Texas introduced mining friendly billseffective September 1, expanding incentives and reducing red tape in the industry.

The economic equation for miners involved network operators compensating them for lost mining revenue. Miners like Riot easily curtail their operations if they receive a little more from grid operators than they would have earned from Bitcoin mining during that period.

This mutually beneficial arrangement helps stabilize the energy grid in ERCOT-dominated Texas while providing income for miners. The energy credits have become critical to Riot, helping to lower Bitcoin mining costs.

Bitcoin production, energy credits and strategic growth initiatives shine

According to the production update, Riot generated 333 Bitcoins in August, which represents a 19% drop from July.

Bitcoin’s average daily production was 10.8, down 19% from July. Despite the drop in production, Riot held 7,309 BTC, reflecting no change from the previous month.

The company also sold 300 BTC in August 2023, representing a 25% decrease from July 2023. The net proceeds from the sale of Bitcoin totaled $8.6 million, down 29% from the previous month.

Riot’s hash rate remained stable at 10.7 EH/s (exahash per second), reflecting no change. The number of miners deployed also remained the same at 95,904.

These stats position Riot as one of the low-cost Bitcoin producers in the industry. The company’s unique energy strategy and efficient miner fleet also position the company favorably for the upcoming Bitcoin halving event.

Despite a massive 8,000% revenue increase in 2021, the crypto market downturn in 2022 resulted in a net loss of more than $500 million for Riot. In the third quarter of 2023, the company suffered a loss of $27.7 million.

Riot’s share price, despite a 230% increase in 2023, remains a long way from its 2021 peak of $77.90. Low trading volume, increases in energy prices and alternative sources of income have challenged Bitcoin miners.

Riot is the worst performing stock of all. It was trade at $11.24 at the time of writing, up 2.37% from the previous day.