Fort Worth, Texas, was the first US city to start bitcoin mining at the initiative of millennial mayor Matty Parker, CNBC reported.

A farm of three Antminer S9 miners from Bitmain was placed in the IT department of the town hall. For security purposes, devices are connected to a private network.

Cryptocurrency mining requires a large amount of electrical and technical personnel for maintenance. That’s why, according to the mayor, the project started with a small pilot.

Parker noted that this would not bring a significant income, but the cost of the consumed electricity could be compensated.

In addition to acquiring a digital asset on the city’s balance sheet, the use of bitcoin aims to increase Fort Worth’s visibility.

“As for Fort Worth, a lot of people don’t know who we are. We want to change this picture and we believe technical innovation, including cryptocurrency, is the way to do it,” he said.

Texas Blockchain Council industry organization and mining pool operator Luxor Technologies became partners in the implementation of the project. The first gave the city three S9s worth about $600 each.

Mayor Parker’s term lasts about a year. According to him, his meetings with familiar venture investors led him to the idea of ​​bitcoin mining. They said that 80% of the capital goes to technology and cryptocurrencies are now at the epicenter of that.

“We are the fastest growing city in the country. There is a lot of activity, especially around North Texas and Fort Worth. To maintain this energy, you need to introduce yourself in different ways. “We believe cryptocurrency is a big part of our future economy,” the mayor said.

After a six-month mining pilot project in Fort Worth, a decision will be made whether to invest real money in building a farm.

In March, Texas Congressman Pete Sessions stated that bitcoin mining could play a “key role” in securing the country’s energy independence. The government already hosts or builds data centers for a number of industry companies, including Compute North, Iris Energy, Core Scientific and Marathon Digital.

Recall that the commune of Sarodino in Argentina’s Santa Fe province decided to resort to mining to overcome financial difficulties. Village officials count on an income of between $500-$600 per month.