TLDR

Tether will direct its existing and future Bitcoin hashrate to OCEAN’s mining pool
The partnership aims to strengthen Bitcoin’s decentralization against centralized block-building
OCEAN’s DATUM protocol allows miners to build their own block templates independently
Tether’s deployment includes mining operations in Africa, Uruguay, Paraguay, and El Salvador
OCEAN currently mines only 0.2-1% of Bitcoin blocks compared to dominant pools like Foundry USA

Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has announced plans to deploy both its existing and future Bitcoin mining hashrate to OCEAN’s mining pool. This strategic move, announced on April 15, 2025, aims to strengthen Bitcoin’s decentralization by supporting alternative block-building methods.

The partnership connects Tether’s growing mining investments with OCEAN’s mission to decentralize Bitcoin mining. OCEAN was created in 2023 by Bitcoin core developer Luke Dashjr and has received backing from prominent tech figures like Block CEO Jack Dorsey.

Tether to Deploy Hashrate on OCEAN, Advancing Decentralized Bitcoin Mining Infrastructure
Learn more: https://t.co/QVzLawzvwK

— Tether (@Tether_to) April 14, 2025

“Deploying hashrate to OCEAN aligns with both our mining investments and our broader mission to fortify Bitcoin against centralizing forces,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino in the announcement.

Decentralizing Block-Building

While Bitcoin’s hashrate is distributed among many miners, the actual block-building process has become concentrated among a few large pools. Foundry USA, AntPool, and ViaBTC currently dominate the sector, collectively building over 66% of all Bitcoin blocks.

OCEAN’s approach differs by using its DATUM (Decentralized Alternative Templates for Universal Mining) protocol. This open-source software enables miners to create their own block templates without relying on centralized intermediaries.

“We see supporting decentralization in Bitcoin mining as essential to the network’s long-term integrity,” Ardoino explained.

Tether’s VP of Mining and Energy, Giv Zanganeh, noted that the company adopted OCEAN following “months of deep technical evaluation.” The DATUM protocol’s modular architecture provides flexibility for Tether’s decentralized mining strategy.

“Deploying hashrate to OCEAN aligns with both our mining investments and our broader mission to fortify Bitcoin against centralizing forces.” @paoloardoino https://t.co/HeyB1ETecz pic.twitter.com/dDVJ93ccYg

— OCEAN (@ocean_mining) April 14, 2025

Expanding Mining Operations

Tether’s mining operations span multiple countries, including Uruguay, Paraguay, and El Salvador, where the $144 billion stablecoin issuer is headquartered. The company is also expanding into rural areas across Africa.

These initiatives align with Tether’s $500 million investment in Bitcoin mining announced in late 2023. OCEAN also relocated its headquarters to El Salvador in May 2024, further strengthening their alignment.

Tether’s deployment will leverage OCEAN’s DATUM software across all its worldwide mining operations. The system enables on-site generation of unique block templates and aggregates thousands of rig connections with low-latency performance.

This approach is particularly valuable in regions with limited internet capacity. DATUM supports mining activity across geographies that might otherwise face operational limitations due to connectivity issues.

Current Market Share and Impact

OCEAN currently has a small market share in Bitcoin mining, producing only 0.2% to 1% of Bitcoin blocks according to mempool.space data. In the week prior to the announcement, it mined nine blocks, including two consecutive blocks on April 14.

By comparison, the leading pools have much greater output. Over the same timeframe, Foundry USA mined 331 blocks, AntPool mined 199, and ViaBTC mined 161.

OCEAN’s hashrate reached 18.3 exahashes per second (EH/s) in the 24 hours before the announcement. Foundry USA, by contrast, exceeded 298 EH/s during the same period, with support from major mining firms like Hut 8, Bitdeer, and Bitfarms.

The partnership with Tether is expected to boost OCEAN’s hashrate and market share. Luke Dashjr, OCEAN’s chairman and CTO, said the deployment “reinforces the importance of censorship-resistant mining protocols.”

Mark Artymko, OCEAN’s president, added that Tether’s participation confirms the pool’s commitment to network neutrality and open access to Bitcoin infrastructure.

This move builds on Tether’s broader strategy in the crypto space. The company has been expanding its Bitcoin investments and recently announced plans to make its USDT stablecoin available via Bitcoin and its Lightning Network.

Through both mining activities and educational efforts, Tether aims to increase access to Bitcoin-related tools in regions with limited financial infrastructure. The company recently partnered with Nigerian crypto platform Quidax on a campaign to promote digital asset literacy across multiple African countries.

Tether’s integration of the DATUM Gateway will extend to its entire international mining footprint, with a focus on newly established operations in underserved rural regions across Africa.

The post Tether Redirects Bitcoin Mining Hashrate to OCEAN Protocol in Decentralization Push appeared first on CoinCentral.

---

Filed under: News - @ April 15, 2025 6:25 am