Congo's Virunga National Park Uses Bitcoin Mining to Stay in Operation

Emmanuel de Merode, director of Congo Virunga National Park, said in the "MIT Technology Review" that due to the impact of the epidemic that began in 2020, the tourism industry has declined sharply. Virunga National Park uses river hydropower to conduct bitcoin mining to maintain income. Virunga National Park began mining in September 2020, deploying $200,000 worth of mining equipment in Luviro, a small village located near the park. Additionally, part of the mining infrastructure was purchased through an NFT auction of an endangered gorilla in the park at Christie’s in partnership with NFT project CyberKongz. The proceeds obtained by Virunga National Park in recent years have been used for the protection of the park, as well as the maintenance of roads and water pumping stations.