The hottest Mining Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Crypto Topics

Copper: Imminent Supercycle or Mostly Hype?

Doomberg • 516 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
💰 Finance Mining
  1. Copper was fairly inactive for about a decade, but interest and market attention have suddenly spiked.
  2. There’s growing hype that future supply will fall far short of demand, which supporters say could trigger a copper 'supercycle'.
  3. The full, in-depth analysis is behind a paid subscription, so accessing the complete argument requires upgrading.

How to mine without mining

Irina Slav on energy • 1002 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Mining
  1. Copper prices are forecasted to jump by 75% in 2025 due to energy transition and decline in the U.S. dollar.
  2. There are concerns about copper shortages, but traders often don't consider long-term impacts when trading commodities.
  3. Mining companies are facing challenges from resource nationalism and must find ways to mine sustainably to support the global transition to clean energy.

Bitcoin Mining and the Electricity Grid: A Quiet Savior

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 21 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Bitcoin miners are highly flexible electricity consumers that can quickly shut down when the grid needs power, joining demand-response programs and earning curtailment payments.
  2. They act like distributed batteries by soaking up excess or stranded renewable energy when supply is abundant and giving that capacity back during peak demand to help stabilize the grid.
  3. In storms and other emergencies miners can sharply reduce their computing power (hashrate) to free up gigawatts for homes and critical services, making mining a practical, market-driven grid backstop.

Split the Bitcoin Baby

DeFi Education • 1199 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Bitcoin halving happens every four years, cutting miners' rewards in half. This can make mining less profitable for some, but it might also lead to higher Bitcoin prices in the future.
  2. Historically, each Bitcoin halving has led to a price increase, as fewer new Bitcoins are created and demand usually stays the same or increases. This basic economic principle suggests prices could go up when supply decreases.
  3. Several factors, like investor trust and regulatory changes, affect how the next halving might impact Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. Positive developments could lead to a crypto boom.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

About that FB EV-bashing meme

The Land Desk • 530 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Mining
  1. Some viral posts try to discredit electric vehicles by highlighting the environmental impact of mining materials for their production.
  2. The environmental impact of electric vehicles needs to be compared to that of traditional gas-powered vehicles to provide context.
  3. Despite the mining required for electric vehicles, they often have lower emissions over their lifecycle compared to gasoline-powered cars.

Top Links 800 Chinese investors snapping up mining assets. The coming shift in global labour markets. Sperm-freezing startups.

Chartbook • 400 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
💼 Business Mining
  1. A lot of Chinese investors are buying up mining assets, especially for materials like lithium. This shows how important these resources are for future technologies.
  2. The global job market is expected to change soon, which could impact where and how people work. This might lead to new opportunities or challenges in different sectors.
  3. There are new startups focused on sperm freezing, which reflect changing attitudes towards family planning and fertility. This could influence how many people choose to start families in the future.

Mining the Earth, Polluting the Future: The Impact of Gold Extraction on Climate Change

Adetokunbo Sees • 416 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Gold mining is causing a lot of deforestation around the world, damaging many forests. In some places, thousands of hectares of land have been lost due to illegal mining activities.
  2. The process of extracting gold emits a significant amount of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. In the coming years, this could exceed 100 million tonnes of emissions each year.
  3. To help reduce the negative impacts of gold mining, we need to focus on using renewable energy and new technologies that lower energy use. This could greatly help the environment.

This Week in Canada: Don’t Try to Say No to a Land Acknowledgment

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 421 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mining
  1. A Canadian company is trying to lead the U.S. in deep-sea mining, which could provide important minerals for technology like phones and electric cars.
  2. The U.S. government is looking to change rules that made deep-sea mining difficult since 1982, pushing to take advantage of these resources quickly.
  3. There is a debate around the idea of land acknowledgments in Canada, highlighting differing views on their importance and impact.

The Cold Ledger: When Greenland is Finally Green

Gad’s Newsletter • 23 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
💼 Business Mining
  1. Arctic shipping shortens distances but brings high extra costs and risks—ice‑class ships, slower speeds, higher insurance, and unreliable schedules—so only bulk, time‑insensitive cargo is likely to benefit in the near term.
  2. Greenland’s rare‑earth deposits can diversify and stabilize critical mineral supply for things like EV motors, but higher extraction and logistics costs mean a modest price premium rather than cheaper consumer goods.
  3. Glacial rock flour could materially lower fertilizer costs and boost crop yields, putting downward pressure on food prices long‑term, but that outcome hinges on solving expensive bulk shipping logistics or monetizing carbon credits to cover transport.

Mining Monitor: Uranium buzz, buzz, buzz

The Land Desk • 216 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Uranium prices are rising above $100 per pound, leading to a buzz in the mining industry.
  2. Real estate prices in Jackson Hole are skyrocketing, leading to concerns about affordability and wealth inequality.
  3. The SunZia transmission project faces a lawsuit from tribes over potential cultural site harm in Arizona.

Managing the coming lithium boom (and bust) in select African states

An Africanist Perspective • 395 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Mining
  1. African lithium-rich countries should focus on localizing refining and ownership structures to eliminate informational gaps with multinational companies as demand for lithium rises.
  2. Countries managing natural resources can benefit from strategies like diversifying economies, producing inputs for the sector, and adding value before export.
  3. African countries facing the lithium boom need to carefully navigate ownership structures, maximize value addition locally, and manage geopolitical pressures to make the most of their green metal deposits.

Mining Dashboard Takeaways 2/9/24

Bitcoin Magazine Pro • 157 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💰 Finance Mining
  1. Bitcoin miners underperformed in January compared to December due to curtailment.
  2. Some mining companies like Cipher and CLSK significantly increased their BTC holdings.
  3. Hut8 was the worst performer, selling BTC and energizing fewer rigs, impacting their stock price.

Peru's natural resources: CIA-linked US ambassador meets with mining and energy ministers to talk 'investments'

Geopolitical Economy Report • 398 implied HN points • 19 Jan 23
🌍 World Politics Mining
  1. Peru is rich in natural resources like copper, gold, zinc, silver, and natural gas, making it a hub for transnational corporations who heavily invest in the mining sector.
  2. President Pedro Castillo aimed to ensure that 70% of mining proceeds went to the state for social programs, but after a coup, the focus shifted back to foreign corporate investments, reversing progressive economic plans.
  3. Natural gas, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), plays a significant role in Peru's exports, with a notable shift towards Europe as a top importer following a boycott of Russian energy.

Numlock Sunday: James Temple on the mine with 2.4 million vehicles in it

Numlock News • 137 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. A single nickel mine in Minnesota could unlock billions in EV subsidies, impacting electrification and consumers.
  2. Understanding the specific impacts of mining projects and legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act can shed light on climate goals and community conflicts.
  3. Navigating the politics of climate change on the ground involves balancing trade-offs, ensuring open dialogue, and making informed decisions about environmental impacts.

Ditch cars and reduce mining

The Land Desk • 255 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Transportation sector with internal combustion engines is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
  2. Electric vehicles require more minerals like copper, rare earth elements, cobalt, nickel, and lithium for batteries.
  3. Transitioning from internal combustion cars to electric vehicles may result in a significant increase in mining, which can harm the environment and communities.

In search of lithium

Everything is Light • 235 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Cornwall has a rich mining history, especially with tin and copper, shaping modern Cornwall.
  2. The global demand for lithium is rising due to electric vehicles and solar panels, potentially leading to shortages by 2025.
  3. Mining lithium in Cornwall is seen as an opportunity for economic growth, jobs, and a sustainable supply of a crucial element for the green transition.

Brazil was left with a "climate bomb" in mining

Green Rocks • 137 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Mining
  1. Brazil faces environmental and indigenous challenges in the aftermath of mining activities.
  2. Mining in Brazil impacts the climate crisis and global geopolitics due to its mineral production.
  3. Regulation changes and government decisions have had significant consequences on the mining sector in Brazil.

Problems Posing as Solutions, Part 3

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 117 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Personal, economic, and ecological problems are often presented as solutions with unforeseen negative consequences.
  2. SUVs are becoming an increasing burden on the planet, posing threats to the environment and public safety.
  3. Seafloor mining, especially in the absence of thorough scientific understanding, risks irreversible damage to deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity.

🔅 Lesley Lokko's Architectural Revolution & Kenya's IMF Lifeline

baobabnewsletter • 58 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Mining
  1. Lesley Lokko is the first African woman to win the prestigious RIBA gold medal and is revolutionizing the architectural world through academia and diversity.
  2. Kenya received a significant financial boost from the IMF to tackle economic challenges and debts, emphasizing the country's resilience amidst crises.
  3. Red Sea ship diversions due to conflicts in the area have increased fuel demand in African ports, creating congestion and soaring prices.

Public Miners Raised $2B in Last Pre-Halving Quarter

Miner Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 16 May 24
💰 Finance Mining
  1. Public bitcoin mining companies raised nearly $2 billion in the last pre-halving quarter, with the three largest companies accounting for a significant portion.
  2. Financing activities for public mining stocks have slowed down in the current quarter, but the investments still surpass those from the previous year's quarter.
  3. Public mining companies are holding a substantial amount of bitcoin, signaling a shift towards retaining mined assets rather than selling immediately.

Coinmint’s Mining Pivot Backfires with $14M Verdict

Miner Weekly • 39 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Mining
  1. Coinmint faced a $14 million verdict due to failures in a deal with chipmaker Katena, highlighting the risks in the bitcoin mining industry.
  2. The arbitration ruling detailed how Coinmint's plans to build up proprietary mining hardware backfired, leading to legal disputes and financial liabilities.
  3. The saga between Coinmint and Katena serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring bitcoin miners about the importance of meeting contractual obligations to avoid costly consequences.

EU's critical minerals, nickel labor, and EVs may not cut it for auto sector

Green Rocks • 78 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Climate technologies require huge amounts of metal, impacting mining and emissions reduction efforts.
  2. Concerns rise over labor conditions in Indonesia's booming nickel industry with reports of worker mistreatment.
  3. The auto sector faces challenges in meeting climate goals, requiring carbon standard agreements and increased renewable energy use.

Why the Bitcoin Security Model Is Broken

Dan Hughes • 4 HN points • 26 Jul 24
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Bitcoin's security model relies on rising prices and transaction fees, which may not be sustainable long-term. If prices stop rising, it could lead to less funding for network security.
  2. The network can only handle a limited number of transactions due to the current block size limit, which affects how much miners earn from fees.
  3. To keep Bitcoin secure, the block size may need to be increased gradually. This way, more transactions can be processed, helping to fund the security budget effectively.

Review 2023 - Mining Economics

nicosmid • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Bitcoin's price in 2023 saw a 171.5% increase from the beginning of the year.
  2. The network difficulty increased significantly throughout the year by 103.6%.
  3. Hashprice stayed above $80/PH/Day due to a surge in transaction fees and Bitcoin's price increase in the last two months of 2023.

5 Ways to Diversify Your Mining Business

nicosmid • 58 implied HN points • 09 May 23
💼 Business Mining
  1. Mining businesses have high operational costs, with energy being a significant expense.
  2. Creating additional income streams can help make a mining business more resilient and competitive.
  3. Diversifying revenue sources can provide financial stability for mining businesses.

Hosting Fees

nicosmid • 58 implied HN points • 30 May 23
💰 Finance Mining
  1. The post is about hosting fees
  2. It offers a comprehensive guide to pricing structures
  3. The article talks about different fees that hosting services work with

Hydro Cooled ASICs

nicosmid • 58 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Mining
  1. Hydro-cooled ASICs utilize water for cooling instead of fans, enhancing thermal conductivity and increasing hashrate output
  2. Water-cooling is more effective than air-cooling for mining equipment as it can absorb more heat efficiently
  3. This method may be costly but offers superior cooling benefits for mining operations

The Return of Private Miners as Halving Approaches

Miner Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 21 Mar 24
💰 Finance Mining
  1. Publicly traded mining companies are progressively mining less of Bitcoin's rewards, indicating a potential return of private miners.
  2. Since bitcoin's hashprice rebound, even older mining machines like M21S could turn a profit at certain energy rates, leading to an uptick in private mining activity before the upcoming halving.
  3. With the halving approaching, there may be a correction in hashrate levels post-halving, as older generation equipment is expected to phase out unless there's a significant increase in bitcoin's hashprice.

The low-carbon energy transition will need less mining than fossil fuels, even when adjusted for waste rock

Sustainability by numbers • 201 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining
  1. Low-carbon energy transition requires less mining than fossil fuels, even when accounting for waste rock.
  2. Material requirements for low-carbon technologies are still lower than current mining requirements for fossil fuels.
  3. Electrification for vehicles will increase material requirements, but overall material needs will decrease with an energy transition.

Mining Strategy Series Part 2: Hosting Services

nicosmid • 39 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
💼 Business Mining
  1. Bitcoin mining offers numerous opportunities in a rapidly growing industry.
  2. The Mining Strategy Series provides insights for building a successful mining business.
  3. Exploring different business models, such as hosting services, is crucial for success in Bitcoin mining.

Quiet Before the Storm?

nicosmid • 39 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. The mining industry is currently experiencing a period of quiet and stability.
  2. Key factors like Bitcoin price, network hashrate, and ASIC prices are maintaining a steady trend.
  3. This calm period may indicate a break for the industry after a significant growth phase.

1 Year Until the Next Halving

nicosmid • 39 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Bitcoin halving occurs every 210,000 blocks or about every four years.
  2. In a year, the block subsidy will be halved from 6.25 to 3.125, impacting miner revenues.
  3. This article discusses the past impact of halving events and how to prepare for the next one.

Mara deleverages

Miner Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 07 Jan 23
💰 Finance Mining
  1. Marathon Digital adhered to its hodl strategy despite market turbulence in 2022, closing with 12,232 BTC and increased liquidity.
  2. Mara reduced revolving credit and paid off debts in December with capital injection, facing volatile stock prices.
  3. 36% of Mara's bitcoin holdings were restricted as of Dec. 31, secured against loans, with a safety net against a decrease in Bitcoin value.

Proof of Work: the choice between centralizing over time or insecure.

Senatus’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Every Proof of Work coin must choose between specialized hashing, leading to centralization over time, or generalized hashing, resulting in a constantly insecure chain.
  2. Specialized hashing algorithms for Proof of Work require specific hardware, electricity, space, maintenance, and capital, leading to centralization over time.
  3. Generalized hashing algorithms allow more participation but can make the chain insecure due to the vast latent hashrate available for potential attacks.

Bitcoin hashprice hits 4-month high

Miner Weekly • 39 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🔮 Crypto Mining
  1. Bitcoin's hashprice has hit a 4-month high, a significant increase.
  2. With the rise in hashprice, older generation mining equipment is becoming profitable once again at certain energy rates.
  3. Bitcoin's rapid hashrate growth has set new records recently, with the approaching difficulty retarget likely to see mining difficulty cross the 40 trillion mark.

The Sino-US bitcoin ASIC War Begins

Miner Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
💰 Finance Mining
  1. Bitcoin's network growth is increasing production costs for mining companies as the halving event nears.
  2. Major mining firms are experiencing both increased and decreased costs of bitcoin production in Q3 compared to Q2.
  3. There is a brewing competition between Sino-U.S. companies in the bitcoin ASIC industry as new equipment is rolled out to meet demands and sustain operations.

Algorithmic Bitcoin Mining

nicosmid • 19 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Mining
  1. Algorithmic Bitcoin mining automates tasks for increased efficiency and less human intervention.
  2. Real-time data is used to optimize mining operations.
  3. Benefits of algorithmic mining include efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and improved hardware health.