Genesis Digital Assets (GDA), one of the world's largest Bitcoin miners, is expanding its presence in the United States with the opening of three new Bitcoin mining data centers in South Carolina. These new facilities, located near Anderson and between the towns of Union and Lockhart, have a combined capacity of 33 megawatts (MW) and began operations this year. In addition, last year, GDA also broke ground on a 40-megawatt (MW) mining data center in Texas. The strategic interest in South Carolina is driven by the state's abundance of clean electricity from hydro and nuclear energy sources, making it an attractive location for Bitcoin mining operations. CEO and Founder Andrey Kim praised South Carolina as one of the most "pro-innovation states" in the country, further enhancing GDA's decision to expand its mining activities in the region. GDA's commitment to clean energy is evident in its approach to locating data centers near sources of clean energy. The Pacolet data center, one of their newest mining sites, is situated close to a Lockhart Power hydroelectric plant. The company aims to run its operations on environmentally friendly energy, highlighting their goal to be ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) friendly in the field of Bitcoin mining. The expansion of GDA's operations in South Carolina has not only brought economic opportunities to the state but also garnered warm support from local communities. The company employed 150 local workers to construct the three new data centers, demonstrating its positive impact on the local economy. Unlike some neighboring states, South Carolina has shown increasing interest in the cryptocurrency sector. Last year, a delegation from South Carolina visited El Salvador to learn about the country's adoption of Bitcoin. The state's positive attitude towards innovation and cryptocurrency adoption aligns well with GDA's expansion plans in the region. However, Bitcoin mining has faced criticism due to its energy-intensive nature, particularly in light of concerns about climate change. Critics argue that even if data centers are powered by renewable energy sources, Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism still leads to increased energy consumption. As mining power increases, so does the difficulty of mining across the entire Bitcoin network. Andrey Kim addressed these concerns and stressed that GDA aims to show the world that Bitcoin mining can be environmentally friendly, emphasizing their focus on ESG principles. Overall, GDA's expansion in South Carolina represents a significant step in the world of Bitcoin mining, showcasing how mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies is finding a place in innovation-friendly states. As the company continues to explore clean energy sources and environmentally friendly practices, the future of Bitcoin mining's impact on the environment remains a topic of discussion within the crypto community.