BTC Halving Impact? Bitmain Planning to Sack 50% of Its Staff

Friday, 03/01/2020 | 08:09 GMT by Arnab Shome
  • The decision is to be finalized in its annual meeting scheduled for January 17.
BTC Halving Impact? Bitmain Planning to Sack 50% of Its Staff
Bitmain bitcoin mining farm (Reuters)

Though the “crypto winter” buzzword is not common lately, crypto mining hardware maker Bitmain is again planning to cut off half its workforce.

Reported by local industry news outlet Wushuo Blockchain , the decision was fueled by the upcoming halving of Bitcoin , which is expected to occur in May.

With the upcoming halving, Bitcoin’s mining reward will drop to 6.25 BTC per block from 12.5 BTC per block. Per the architecture of the digital currency’s blockchain, this is done in every four years to control the supply and demand of the digital currency.

Though historical trends show that Bitcoin’s price always surged significantly amid halving, still the market sentiment cannot be accurately predicted.

If the price is unchanged or even surged in two digits, it can make a significant impact on the mining operations, directly impacting Bitmain’s business.

Bitmain currently hires more than 1,000 employees, compared to only 100 by its rival Shenma Mining Machine. Per the report, the step will also streamline the organization's work structure.

A similar decision was taken in the past

Impacted by the plunge in the crypto market, the Chinese manufacturer also shed 50 percent of its staff by the end of 2018. The company even laid off the entire team working on the development of Bitcoin Cash client and closed its branch in Israel, sacking all the employees.

In a power tussle in the management, the company’s co-founder Micree Ketuan Zhan was ousted in October from the position of executive director.

Meanwhile, the company is also pushing for a public listing in the United States after a failed attempt in Hong Kong.

Though the “crypto winter” buzzword is not common lately, crypto mining hardware maker Bitmain is again planning to cut off half its workforce.

Reported by local industry news outlet Wushuo Blockchain , the decision was fueled by the upcoming halving of Bitcoin , which is expected to occur in May.

With the upcoming halving, Bitcoin’s mining reward will drop to 6.25 BTC per block from 12.5 BTC per block. Per the architecture of the digital currency’s blockchain, this is done in every four years to control the supply and demand of the digital currency.

Though historical trends show that Bitcoin’s price always surged significantly amid halving, still the market sentiment cannot be accurately predicted.

If the price is unchanged or even surged in two digits, it can make a significant impact on the mining operations, directly impacting Bitmain’s business.

Bitmain currently hires more than 1,000 employees, compared to only 100 by its rival Shenma Mining Machine. Per the report, the step will also streamline the organization's work structure.

A similar decision was taken in the past

Impacted by the plunge in the crypto market, the Chinese manufacturer also shed 50 percent of its staff by the end of 2018. The company even laid off the entire team working on the development of Bitcoin Cash client and closed its branch in Israel, sacking all the employees.

In a power tussle in the management, the company’s co-founder Micree Ketuan Zhan was ousted in October from the position of executive director.

Meanwhile, the company is also pushing for a public listing in the United States after a failed attempt in Hong Kong.

About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome
  • 7307 Articles
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About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from the National Institute of Technology, Agartala. He entered the retail trading industry about a decade ago, covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates, and later expanded his coverage to include forex and CFDs as well. His work at Finance Magnates includes C-level interviews, data-driven analysis, opinion pieces, and scoops of industry exclusives. He also contributes to Finance Magnates’ quarterly industry report. Area of coverage: 1. CFD broker-related news 2. Industry-related Regulatory updates and developments 3. New retail trading trends 4. Prop trading industry updates 5. Executive interviews Education: Bachelor of Technology - National Institute of Technology, Agartala (India)
  • 7307 Articles
  • 133 Followers

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