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I don't think North Korea has the electrical capacity to mine cryptocurrencies. They don't have enough electricity to keep their cities lit at night.

LyndsySimon 9y ago
I'm certainly not an expert on the capabilities of North Korea, but my intuition says that if they can build a hydrogen bomb, they can power a few shipping containers full of ASICs. My impression was that they aren't electrified because it isn't a national priority for them to be, not because they lacked the capable to develop the infrastructure.
- montaguy 9y ago
  Nobody is saying that they don't have the capability. The fact that they're stealing bitcoin I think indicates that it's not as profitable for them to start a mining operation. A lot of things need to line up to make the unit cost of mining bitcoin work.
- koolba 9y ago
  On the contrary, it's probably part of their operating plans. Electricity and other creature comforts of modern society give people the free time needed to plan a revolt. It's in their interests to keep the people alive yet stagnant.
  - DaiPlusPlus 9y ago
    If the NK elite want to continue to live in luxury they will have to do something about their underclass eventually. Bill Gates, et al, wouldn't have their present lifestyles if they didn't have well-educated (and well-nourished) people doing their work. Serious question: If you're an elite NK party member with your own private home theatre set-up, who do you call when your Plex server stops working?
    - njarboe 9y ago
      Kidnap some Japanese techs?
dragonwriter 9y ago
> They don't have enough electricity to keep their cities lit at night. They certainly don't devote enough capacity to do that, but that could be in part priorities for use.
int_19h 9y ago
You assume that "keeping their cities lit at night" is higher priority than "obtaining more cash for covert purchases of equipment for the nuclear program", for example. And they have to ask themselves that question for every new kilowatt of generating power that they install.
flashmob 9y ago
NK is mostly mountains, it has plenty of potential hydro-electricity available. The hard part is building / maintaining the infrastructure and logistics required to get the electricity to each and every building, that's the hard part.

LyndsySimon 9y ago

I'm certainly not an expert on the capabilities of North Korea, but my intuition says that if they can build a hydrogen bomb, they can power a few shipping containers full of ASICs. My impression was that they aren't electrified because it isn't a national priority for them to be, not because they lacked the capable to develop the infrastructure.

montaguy 9y ago
Nobody is saying that they don't have the capability. The fact that they're stealing bitcoin I think indicates that it's not as profitable for them to start a mining operation. A lot of things need to line up to make the unit cost of mining bitcoin work.
koolba 9y ago
On the contrary, it's probably part of their operating plans. Electricity and other creature comforts of modern society give people the free time needed to plan a revolt. It's in their interests to keep the people alive yet stagnant.
- DaiPlusPlus 9y ago
  If the NK elite want to continue to live in luxury they will have to do something about their underclass eventually. Bill Gates, et al, wouldn't have their present lifestyles if they didn't have well-educated (and well-nourished) people doing their work. Serious question: If you're an elite NK party member with your own private home theatre set-up, who do you call when your Plex server stops working?
  - njarboe 9y ago
    Kidnap some Japanese techs?

dragonwriter 9y ago

> They don't have enough electricity to keep their cities lit at night. They certainly don't devote enough capacity to do that, but that could be in part priorities for use.

int_19h 9y ago

You assume that "keeping their cities lit at night" is higher priority than "obtaining more cash for covert purchases of equipment for the nuclear program", for example. And they have to ask themselves that question for every new kilowatt of generating power that they install.

flashmob 9y ago

NK is mostly mountains, it has plenty of potential hydro-electricity available. The hard part is building / maintaining the infrastructure and logistics required to get the electricity to each and every building, that's the hard part.