Bitcoin Heating Up: Home Bitcoin Mining is Going To Heat Europe
Maximilian Obwexer faced a pressing challenge.
His Austrian home relied on costly conventional heating oil, prompting his quest for an alternative solution. A natural innovator with a background in hydroelectric engineering, he channeled his expertise into developing a more efficient heating method.
Following extensive experimentation and deep exploration into Bitcoin mining, he established 21energy three years ago. The company crafts sleek, durable, and whisper-quiet Bitcoin miners designed for residential use. Early Ofen 1 models delivered up to 10 TH/s, while the premium version achieved 40 TH/s at peak performance, albeit with noticeable noise. Now scaling operations with 12 new hires and launching the upgraded Ofen 2 (35-42 TH/s), 21energy’s Bitcoin heaters mimic traditional radiators—powered by mining. Users can solo mine or join preferred pools.
“Bitcoin heaters bring decentralized grid balancing into homes!” Obwexer declared to a captivated audience at Helsinki’s Nordic Bitcoin conference BTCHel. His talk focused less on product promotion and more on Europe’s strained energy infrastructure.
European nations depend heavily on foreign energy imports. Traditional power sources like coal, gas, and hydro face growing pressure to reduce output as wind and solar gain prominence. While fossil fuels emit CO2 and pollutants, their renewable alternatives create grid instability due to erratic generation. Even green energy providers must occasionally curb production during surpluses, wasting potential electricity and undermining investor confidence. Compounding this, households endure steep energy and heating costs.
These challenges, Obwexer argues, make Bitcoin mining an obvious solution. “It’s a no-brainer—even if you dislike or misunderstand Bitcoin,” he remarked beside 21energy’s booth, where radiators warmed the Helsinki Expo hall.
Notably, many clients are eco-conscious “solar enthusiasts” seeking to reduce fossil fuel reliance. Though an unexpected demographic for Bitcoin adoption, Obwexer notes, “The financial logic is undeniable.”
During a podcast with BTCHel organizers Knut Svanholm and Luke de Wolf, Obwexer highlighted Finland’s leadership in Bitcoin-based heating:
“Europe desperately needs Bitcoin mining given grid volatility… Politicians’ own policies inadvertently support it—they just haven’t realized yet.”
At BTCHel, Obwexer presented a pivotal graph linking abundant energy access to societal prosperity: “A clean, wealthy, healthy society requires substantial power.”
via: Todd Moss, Eat More Electrons
21energy’s next phase involves grid-level flexible load management. Mobile mining units in trucks could alleviate pressure on hydro plants by redirecting excess energy to miners—slashing response times from minutes to seconds.
Meet 21energy next week at #BTCHEL – the First Large-Scale Bitcoin Conference in the Nordics!
Join us at our booth and meet our team
Learn how we transform electricity into warmth & Bitcoin
Don’t miss talks from Harald, Maximilian & Lukas on Bitcoin mining,… pic.twitter.com/juBRMGWvWh
— 21energy (@21energy_com) August 7, 2025
Home mining via purpose-built heaters decentralizes the industry, insulating users from the harsh economics facing large-scale operations. By tackling energy waste and heating costs simultaneously, 21energy aims to expand its Tyrolean roots globally.
“I’m extremely optimistic about Bitcoin mining’s future in Europe,” Obwexer concluded.
This post Bitcoin Heating Up: Home Bitcoin Mining is Going To Heat Europe first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Joakim Book.
Source: cryptonews.net
