Latest news with #Wyoming
Coin Geek
2 hours ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
Weighing the American dream: A look at Trump's pro-crypto push
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... On May 12, 2025, American Bitcoin, backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., went public through an all-stock merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, marking a pivotal moment in block reward mining. The venture aims to establish a leading Bitcoin mining operation while building a strategic digital currency reserve, positioning itself as 'the most investable Bitcoin accumulation platform,' per Eric Trump. Leveraging the Trump family's prominence, American Bitcoin seeks to attract investors and capitalize on the United States' dominance in Bitcoin mining, which accounts for over 40% of the global hash rate. The strategy focuses on low-cost mining to ensure profitability in a post-halving environment, where block rewards dropped to 3.125 BTC in April 2024. Merging with Gryphon, which is known for its sustainable practices, enhances credibility. Gryphon's use of hydroelectric power aligns with environmental concerns, as electricity can account for up to 80% of mining costs. This is critical in states like Texas and Wyoming, where electricity rates average $0.08 per kilowatt-hour, offering a competitive edge over regions with higher costs. By integrating Gryphon's expertise, American Bitcoin aims to optimize energy efficiency in a market where margins are increasingly tight due to economic pressures. The Trump administration's pro-crypto policies significantly bolster the venture's prospects. Promises of reduced regulatory hurdles, such as streamlined permitting processes for new mining facilities, could accelerate expansion and lower operational barriers. However, proposed 36% tariffs on imported mining equipment from Asia, where most rigs like Bitmain's Antminer S21+ are manufactured, pose substantial challenges. These tariffs could inflate costs, forcing American Bitcoin to explore domestic manufacturing alternatives or negotiate exemptions to maintain profitability. With global mining difficulty at a record 123T and hash price at $0.049 per terahash per second, operational efficiency is non-negotiable for survival. American Bitcoin's public listing on a major exchange enhances its appeal to institutional investors, who are increasingly drawn to the digital currency sector. The Trump brand could legitimize mining as an asset class, attracting capital from traditional finance sectors. Critics, however, caution that the venture's success hinges on BTC's price stability and effective energy cost management. The reserve-building strategy mirrors approaches by firms like MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), but risks include public perception tied to the Trump name and potential regulatory shifts if political priorities change unexpectedly. The venture reflects a broader trend of high-profile figures entering the digital asset space, blending political influence with technological ambition. American Bitcoin's success will depend on navigating economic pressures, optimizing energy consumption, and delivering a scalable, sustainable operation in a highly competitive market. The merger with Gryphon positions it to address environmental concerns, but tariffs and market volatility remain significant hurdles. By leveraging the U.S.'s mining infrastructure and political support, American Bitcoin aims to redefine the industry's landscape, but its path forward requires strategic precision. Watch: Breaking down solutions to blockchain regulation hurdles title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
We ditched our small-town life in Wyoming to travel the world on a cruise... and the cost shocked us
A couple decided to pack up their small-town life in Wyoming and go on the adventure of a lifetime - a luxury cruise around the world. Paul and Lynn Montoya were living in Laramie - a city with a population of about 31,0000 - and operating a bed and breakfast in Vedauwoo before they were hit with a sudden wake-up call following the COVID-19 pandemic to experience what the world had to offer. 'We realized we hadn't seen the world, running a business like we did in Wyoming,' Paul told Cowboy State Daily. 'We never had time to do much travel. We actually went to Europe for the first time in our lives last year, and we're in our 60s now, so we'd really like to explore the world.' And that's exactly what they did - leaving behind their home, packing up a rental car of their most prized possessions and hopping aboard the Villa Vie ship Odyssey, the first world cruise where passengers embark on a three-and-a-half year journey around the globe. Cruises are often looked at as expensive, but for the Montoyas, they soon realized their dream wouldn't cost them any more than it did living in Laramie. Now, the couple are enjoying their extended vacation for about $80,000 a year after hopping on the cruise ship in April to take them to 147 countries, 425 ports and 100 tropical islands. The breakdown of their expenses include the cost of their cabin, three meals a day, entertainment, housekeeping, laundry and internet. They hopped aboard the Villa Vie ship Odyssey (pictured), the first world cruise where passengers embark on a three-and-a-half year journey around the globe The cheapest cabin option starts at $129,000 with a $2,999 monthly maintenance fee - around $45,000 annually - for one person to stay there. For two people, the fee is $3,999 or $57,000 a year, and, according to the ship's website, the occupancy range could go up to at least 15 years if desired. Although it is unclear how much the couple were paying for their home, the average cost of a home in Laramie is estimated at $378,258, according to Zillow. 'That's one of the things the Odyssey really does is they're trying to program this for affordable living,' Lynn told the outlet. 'It's similar to maybe like a retirement community, like a 55-plus community.' She went on to compare their new lifestyle to those living in two of the most expensive locations in the US. 'If you're living in California or New York or something that, I don't think you could even live in a rented apartment for that nowadays,' she said. 'For them, this is probably an easy decision. For us, this is the same lifestyle we had in Laramie, but we're getting to see the world.' She and her husband also don't have to stay in their cabins the entire time, as they have options to leave to attend important family events like funerals or weddings. They also have the option to rent out their cabin like Airbnb does with houses. If they wanted to, they could also sell their cabin back to Ville Vie for a lower value or sell it to a new cabin owner. Their cabin is already worth approximately $20,0000 more than what they originally paid for it, the couple said. With that in mind, Paul said he and his wife have plans for the future of their cabin. 'If we die, our family can actually inherit it, too. But we're hoping the value will be there where we can actually sell (the cabin) for the amount we paid, maybe more if it's really popular,' he said. There is even flexibility with how cabins are paid for as the cruise offers a pay-as-you-go plan to those who can't afford it outright. The Montoya's even met a man who owns two cabins - one for him and another to rent out. 'Now what he's doing is renting both of those out and, with the money he's renting it for, he's paying for life on the ship,' Lynn explained. 'He's one of the ones who left in August, so he's been doing that for some time.' Although the cabins are affordable - when compared to the cost of living on land in the US - the couple warned that there is not too much space to work with. 'A typical cabin is about 200 square feet. And you normally have a bed and a desk, maybe a side chair, and a small bathroom,' they said. But, there is still an option to customize the cabins to your liking as the couple plan on having changes made to their space soon. 'We're actually having the construction crew on here tear out all of the cabinetry, and we're going to re-wallpaper it,' Paul stated 'We're also going to replace the bed with our own bed.' They will be able to retrieve their bed once the ship ports in San Diego. Though they've made sure their living space is comfortable for them, the couple said they spend most of their time at the ship's gym, business center or at ports enjoying fun and unique activities. They recently got to swim with wild dolphins in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the Montoya's detailed on their YouTube page. They also created their own website to share updates on their journey, including a checklist of all the places they've been and have yet to experience. As of Sunday, the couple have visited eight destinations in Mexico, one in El Salvador and another in Guatemala. They still have a boatload of destinations to cross off, including trips to Hawaii, Canada, Washington, California, Alaska, Japan and South Korea.
Washington Post
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
What to know about seeing the northern lights in the U.S. on Sunday
The northern lights made an appearance early Sunday in the western United States, but more sightings could be possible as night falls. On Sunday morning, people in New Mexico, Wyoming, Washington state and other parts of the west reported seeing the aurora borealis. Some even spotted glowing skies in the Mid-Atlantic before dawn.
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Americans warned not to eat invasive mussel species
An invasive species of mussels has found its way to Wyoming, but seafood enthusiasts are being warned to steer clear or risk dangerous consequences. More than 500,000 zebra mussels were discovered on a boat lift by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and, following swift and aggressive action to eradicate them, officials have warned Americans to avoid consuming them. In early May, aquatic invasive species specialists worked with the WGFD Casper office to rid more than half a million of the mussels off of a boat that had been at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area in South Dakota, Cowboy State Daily reported. Specialist's scalded and killed the mussels with hot water and took every effort to ensure no zebra mussel DNA survived. The distinct looking mussel, with tan stripes, more closely biologically resembles that of a clam, but their functions remain similar. Zebra mussels are filter feeders, according to the National Park Service, and siphon particles of plankton from the water. Yet, their fast reproduction rates and insatiable appetite can cause harm to waters and its native species if infestation is not prevented. Zebra mussels of a large population can quickly eradicate almost all floating particles from a body of water, robbing food from species that feed on plankton and exposing prey in the clearer waters. Once an infestation occurs, there is little to be done, therefore officials focus heavily on preventative action to avoid infested waters. Cheyenne chef Petrina Peart told Cowboy State Daily: 'Zebra mussels can be cooked and consumed, but I don't think it'll be worth the potential digestive issues that may follow.' Their constant water filtration typically leads to their harboring a lot of harmful bacteria, which is true for all mussels. 'Freshwater mussels consume plankton and with it any toxins that are present in the water. They make for great water filtration but may not make for a great Amuse Bouche.' When cooking mussels, wine is often used to help kill off any harmful bacteria that may be present. 'Mussels have to be harvested from clean and uncontaminated waters and cooked thoroughly,' Peart said. 'Lots of butter, lemon and fresh herbs couldn't hurt, but there could still be potentially harmful bacteria. Wine is used in mussel recipes to help kill bacteria. It also happens to be delicious.' Some invasive mussel species infestations were solved through consumption, such as the green iguana species. 'The green iguana is an invasive species in the Cayman Islands,' Peart told the outlet. 'They have created dishes and cuisine around the efforts to eradicate destructive invasive iguana species by turning them into something mainstream.' And while the solution worked well, zebra mussels are also much smaller than green iguanas. The largest zebra mussel only reaches around two inches long at most. Peart can see how 'from a problem solving standpoint,' turning to consuming zebra mussels could help eradicate them, but doesn't necessarily think that means it's a good idea. 'I won't lie - I skipped the iguana soup while in the Cayman Islands, and I'll probably skip the zebra mussels too,' she said, with no plans to add them to her menu.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Will America's National Parks Survive Trump?
Like a cinnamon river overflowing its banks, thousands of elk have been making their way across Jackson Hole, Wyo., to their summer range below the high, jagged peaks of Grand Teton National Park. This is one of the world's most spectacular migrations, protected by the creation and expansion over the last half century of what is now a 485-square-mile park. As the weather has warmed, cars and vans carrying tourists from far and wide have been lining the roads, watching and photographing the elk and keeping an eye out for wolves, bears, moose, deer, bison and pronghorn antelope. With more than 3.6 million visitors last year, Grand Teton is one of the most popular national parks. In 2023, the $738 million spent by these tourists in nearby hotels, restaurants and shops supported more than 9,300 regional jobs — not a bad return for a park that runs on a budget of about $15 million a year. The pattern is similar across America. That same year, the most recent for which figures are available, the 325 million visitors to national parks, monuments and historic sites spent an estimated $26.4 billion in surrounding communities. Visits to the parks swelled last year to a record of nearly 332 million. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
