BOLSTERING SECURITY WITHIN CRYPTOMINING
BLOCKBASE
CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLEMAN IN CRYPTOMINING WRIT TEN BY
CATHERINE S TURM AN PRODUCED BY
LE WIS VAUGHAN
FOUNDER AND CEO, VLADO STANIC, DISCUSSES THE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF CRYPTO CURRENCY AND THE ADVANTAGES OF CRYPTO MINING IN THIS MONTH’S BUSINESS CHIEF EUROPE
T
he financial sector is undergoing a significant transformation as it seeks to adapt and cater towards an evolving consumer market. As
technology continues to reshape traditional ways of working, the emergence of digital cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Zcash, have turned our understanding of currency completely on its head. Whilst the emergence of cryptocurrency exploded into mainstream media last year, leading to a number of established companies, founder and CEO of crypto mining business, Blockbase, Vlado Stanic, has sought to provide crypto mining as a service to clients since 2015. Sourcing and purchasing hardware and delivering greater security to clients, the business relocated to Sweden in 2017 in its bid to obtain access to reliable, low-cost source sustainable energy sources at scale. Close to finishing the construction of a second data centre, a third is currently being planned as the business continues to purchase and host miners at its data centres in Sweden. “The cryptocurrency technology is one of the biggest revolutions that we have seen in the past decade, as
“FOR ME, THE CRYPTOCURRENCY BUSINESS IS, IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE BIGGEST TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST DECADE, AS IT GIVES THE POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE” — Vlado Stanic, Founder & CEO
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CLIMATE NEUTRAL ELECTRICITY
Compensate what you can’t reduce. Vattenfall can impact CO2 emissions along our whole value chain by investing heavily in renewable energy. To reach zero emissions it includes energy production investments in other countries. corporate.vattenfall.com/sustainability
it empowers people to transact directly
GREENER SOLUTIONS
between each other at very low cost,”
Whilst Blockbase works to purchase
says Stanic.
the necessary hardware for its clients,
“Everybody has power over their own
who remain the owner, Stanic high-
money, effectively cutting out the middle-
lights that if they wish to change provider
man and a need for third parties. It’s no
at any stage they are able to do so.
surprise that Bitcoin was established
Providing greater security and ultimate
after the financial crisis as people were
choice is something which the business
fed up banks and how they work, how
has placed essential focus, particularly
they treat your money and how they still
for those who invest from $50k for
almost went bankrupt.
mining hardware.
“Bitcoin is like digital gold and crypto-
“Our clients prefer owning the miners
mining is equal to gold mining. We help
so they can keep 100% of the mining
our clients to monetise the significant
rewards. We source and buy the hard-
difference between the production
ware for them, ship it to our facilities,
costs and the market price of bitcoin.”
set them up and then we also run and w w w.bl o c k ba se mi ni n g . com
“ELIMINATING THE MIDDLEMAN THROUGHOUT HAS ALSO PROVIDED CUSTOMERS WITH AN INCREASING LAYER OF SECURITY AND ULTIMATE TRANSPARENCY” — Vlado Stanic, Founder & CEO
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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘WHAT IS BITCOIN MINING?’
service it in our facilities. We do the complete process,” he says. “The next huge benefit is that their
Placing all hardware within one of its data centres, Blockbase is keen to increasingly scale its services, housing
hardware mines in their own mining
the potential for 16MW to be placed in
pool. They provide us with the mining
one of its facilities alone. 1,600 sq. Block-
pool where they want the machines
base’s data centres benefit enormously
to be pointed at. This gives them the
from its location in northern Sweden,
next best security, and all the coins
which has brought cooling costs
mined are going directly into the
down considerably.
customer’s wallet.” “Eliminating the middleman through-
“Previously, most companies, particularly in China utilise coal or nuclear
out has also provided customers with
power plants. However, we utilise 100%
an increasing layer of security and
green energy in our facilities. We have
ultimate transparency.”
a contract with Vattenfall, whom we
“WE UTILISE 100% GREEN ENERGY IN OUR FACILITIES. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH VATTENFALL, WHOM WE PURCHASE RENEWABLE ENERGY, SUCH AS HYDRO POWER AND WIND POWER” — Vlado Stanic, Founder & CEO
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C OMPA N Y FA C T S
• The emergence of digital cryptocurrencies, have turned our understanding of currency completely on its head • Blockbase relocated to Sweden in 2017 in its bid to obtain access to reliable, low-cost source sustainable energy sources at scale. • Close to finishing the construction of a second data centre, a third is currently being planned
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purchase renewable energy, such as hydropower and wind power,” notes Stanic. Building effective, long-term
2015
Year founded
partnerships has been central to Blockbase’s success. With five team members providing local support, on top of it’s in house developed hosting software, the company remains confident in its ability to remain operational 7 days a week, day and night. “The last big power outage in the north of Sweden was back in 1984. The country has built its power grid with Norway and Finland, increasing stability. We work closely with our local grid provider to also address any problems,” he says.
LONG-TERM GROWTH With plans to further scale up its operations in Sweden and upgrade the current facility up to 19 megawatts, the company is gaining an additional power line where 10 megawatts will also enter the facility. Plans to build a second and third facility are in
15
Number of employees
construction, with a goal of scaling up to almost 30 megawatts in Sweden by next year. Additionally, Stanic is keen to enter other markets outside of Europe long-term, such as the United States and areas of Canada which are stable, cryptocurrency friendly, house a similar climate and promote green energy. “Our long-term plan is to move from strictly mining-as-a-service to a high-performance computing company,” concludes Stanic. “This goal we want to achieve over the next three years so that we’re not just relying on one business. “Becoming a high-performance computing business would be the perfect fit for our company, where we will consistently provide costeffective prices and ensure we remain competitive for the future.”
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Sturegatan 16 96133 Boden Schweden T +31 20 240 1680 www.blockbasemining.com