New Alliances in Crypto: Tether and OCEAN's Shockingly Brave Push to Decentralize Bitcoin Block-Building

In the latest twist of the crypto saga, Tether, the colossal stablecoin issuer, decided it was high time to play ball with OCEAN Protocol, a relatively fresh face in the Bitcoin mining scene. Who would have thought stablecoins and decentralized pools would make such a lovely couple?

OCEAN: Riding Waves of Decentralization

Created by Bitcoin core developer Luke Dashjr (no shade there), this little protocol is on a mission to sprinkle decentralization across Bitcoin's block-building process using the all-mighty DATUM protocol. It's like a fairy godmother for miners who have dreamt of escaping the clutches of centralized giants. Empowering miners one block at a time!

The Grand Tether Bandwagon

In a glittering announcement (probably accompanied by balloons and confetti), Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino professed their commitment on April 15, suggesting that deploying hashrate to OCEAN aligns with their alleged quest to save Bitcoin from evil centralizing forces. Who needs capes when you have exahashes?

The Awkward Load of Controversy

Remember Luke Dashjr's December 2023 debacle with Bitcoin Ordinals? Apparently, network congestion whining is a thing. Yet, let's be honest, what’s a little drama without spicy accusations of censorship? OCEAN denies it, of course! What is a good crypto project without a dash of controversy anyway?

OCEAN’s Humble Splash in the Sea

Despite a glorious partnership with Tether, OCEAN’s contribution to mining remains a conundrum—slogging through with just 0.2% to 1% of block mining, compared to the mammoth likes of Foundry USA, AntPool, and ViaBTC, which nonchalantly gobble up over 66% of the pie. Ouch.

Tether's Worldwide Crusade

Tether is deploying its love for OCEAN’s DATUM software with plans of global expansion. Believe it or not, Tether isn’t just lounging in Uruguay, Paraguay, and El Salvador (the location of its love nest HQ), it’s also sprouting operations in rural areas of Africa—because, why not?

Mining and Magnificence

OCEAN's hashrate skipped to a modest 18.3 exahashes per second (EH/s) in the last 24 hours. While impressive, it does pale in comparison to Foundry USA’s 298 EH/s. But who’s counting?

Conclusion: Not Your Average Crypto Scene

So there it is—Tether and OCEAN, the dynamic duos of the decentralized frontier, are pushing boundaries in the crypto realm. With bacon strips of controversy and a sprinkle of ambitious endeavors, who wouldn't cheer with popcorn ready? Let’s just hope this soap opera doesn't sink in the end!