cryptocurrency

Investors make a massive bet on crypto mining in a tiny NE Washington town

Zachariah Bryan

California owners want to build one of the biggest operations in the country, but concerns about energy usage, noise and sustainability stand in the way

Business

Higher electric rates may end Central Washington bitcoin rush

Tom Banse

In the last few years, rock-bottom electricity rates have attracted bitcoin miners and other virtual currency entrepreneurs to central Washington state....

Bitcoin mines -- or data centers -- are popping up near the Wenatchee airport among other places. Some are installed inside used cargo containers, which local councils increasingly are banning for this use.

Business

Central Washington Jurisdictions Call 'Time Out' On Bitcoin Boom

Tom Banse

When the price of one bitcoin soared to almost $20,000 late last year, an influx of entrepreneurs and developers came to the Pacific Northwest in search...

File photo. Chelan County Public Utility District managers want to shut down unauthorized bitcoin operations.

Business

Central Washington Utility In Pursuit Of 'Rogue' Bitcoin Miners

Tom Banse

A public utility in north central Washington state wants to root out a new kind of outlaw: the rogue bitcoin miner.

Coinme plans to use the proceeds of its initial coin offering to greatly expand its bitcoin ATM network.

Business

Northwest Companies Raise Real Dough With New Virtual Currencies Amid Warnings

Tom Banse

A quartet of young companies from the Seattle area have raised tens of millions of dollars by tapping into a hot tech trend. They've invented new...

File photo. Bitcoin mining involves banks of computers at server farms that use huge amounts of electricity.

Business

Virtual Currencies Putting Real Demand On Central Washington's Cheap Electricity

Tom Banse

The price of bitcoin set another new all-time high Wednesday, shooting past $13,000. The meteoric rise in the value of bitcoin and lesser known virtual...