Institutional investment in Bitcoin mining by large public companies has notably impacted the landscape for individual and small-scale miners, with significant consequences for the network’s dynamics, according to a Bitfinex report on the cryptocurrency mining ecosystem ahead of the Bitcoin halving. The study reveals a shift from the decentralized vision of Bitcoin, where individuals contributed to network security, to a scenario dominated by corporate entities. These entities prioritize shareholder returns, operating on a much larger scale with different priorities than smaller miners. The report emphasizes their focus on profitability and managing investor expectations, often sidelining the community’s more altruistic values
