Marathon Digital Holdings, a company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, specializing in Bitcoin mining and digital asset technology, has recently introduced a new service called “Slipstream” that allows for direct Bitcoin transaction submissions. The purpose of this service is to facilitate and accelerate large or non-standard Bitcoin transactions.
Typically, when Bitcoin transactions are too big to fit on the blockchain or too complicated to process normally, they experience delays while simpler transactions are prioritized. This can be frustrating for individuals or groups who frequently engage in high-volume trading.
Marathon Digital’s “Slipstream” service, as stated in a press release seen by Cointelegraph, has been specifically designed and tested to address these limitations. The company is one of the largest and most active Bitcoin miners globally, having achieved a company record of mining 1,853 BTC in December 2023. In total, they mined 12,852 BTC in the past year, amounting to over half a billion dollars.
The imminent Bitcoin halving, projected to occur around the third week of April, adds further anticipation to the mining landscape. This prediction is based on the number of remaining blocks and the current average mining time. While analysts generally anticipate a subsequent increase in Bitcoin’s price, there is significant uncertainty surrounding how the halving will impact miners.
Historically, Bitcoin has experienced significant price surges after halvings. However, the term “halving” implies a 50% reduction in mining block rewards, decreasing from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per block. This reduction has prompted miners to reconsider their strategies, with some even shifting their focus to other cryptocurrencies. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that Marathon Digital reportedly holds a substantial war chest of over 15,000 BTC, valued at more than $1 billion.
While some analysts suggest that Riot Platforms, a major competitor in the United States, may be better positioned for long-term success, Marathon Digital has surprisingly taken a commanding lead in the early stages leading up to April.