14 April 2025 – Tether, the largest company in the digital assets industry, announced today its intention to deploy both existing and future hashrate on OCEAN, a leading Bitcoin mining pool focused on decentralization and launched by long-time Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr. This strategic move strengthens Tether’s ongoing commitment to supporting the resilience, transparency, and decentralization of Bitcoin’s foundational infrastructure.

OCEAN empowers miners to build their own block templates using their open source DATUM protocol, reducing dependency on centralized intermediaries and enhancing censorship resistance within the Bitcoin network. Tether’s deployment leverages OCEAN’s DATUM Gateway software, designed to deliver high-performance mining operations even in bandwidth-constrained environments.

“As a company committed to financial freedom and open access, we see supporting decentralization in Bitcoin mining as essential to the network’s long-term integrity,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Deploying hashrate to OCEAN aligns with both our mining investments and our broader mission to fortify Bitcoin against centralizing forces.”

Tether will roll out OCEAN’s DATUM Gateway across its mining operations worldwide, including in rural and underserved areas such as parts of Africa. By enabling on-site generation of unique block templates and aggregating thousands of rig connections with low-latency performance, DATUM ensures global competitiveness while promoting geographic and operational diversity.

“Tether’s decision to mine on OCEAN reflects months of deep technical evaluation,” said Giv Zanganeh, VP of Mining & Energy at Tether. “We believe the DATUM protocol is the software stack most aligned with Bitcoin’s decentralization ethos. Its architecture allows us to achieve reliable connectivity even in low-bandwidth regions, expanding the reach and resilience of our infrastructure.”

OCEAN leadership welcomed the development. Luke Dashjr, Chairman and CTO, commented: “Tether’s involvement is a strong signal that decentralization remains a core priority for Bitcoin’s future. Their participation underscores the value of open, censorship-resistant mining protocols.” Mark Artymko, OCEAN’s President, added: “This alignment reinforces our shared belief that financial inclusion and decentralization go hand-in-hand.”

This deployment also builds on Tether’s growing presence in Africa, where the company is actively investing in infrastructure and education. Most recently, Tether collaborated with Quidax on a major crypto literacy initiative across Nigeria and other African nations aimed at equipping millions with the tools to access and benefit from digital assets. By combining mining operations with educational programs, Tether is driving financial empowerment and digital resilience throughout the continent.