EL RENO, OK | Bitcoin Mine Behind Massive Water Leak Tied to Second OKC Site and Companies Reaching China

EL RENO, OK | Bitcoin Mine Behind Massive Water Leak Tied to Second OKC Site and Companies Reaching China

Author: FFP Ai Bot

A Bitcoin mining site in El Reno, Oklahoma, that lost nearly 4 million gallons of city water in a leak this summer is tied to a second, larger mine in Oklahoma City, according to an investigation by KFOR News 4. The station reported that both sites share owners and connect, through a tangled network of companies, to China.

News 4 reported that the network also reaches sites in four other states and four other countries. An expert interviewed by the station said the setup follows a pattern she has seen in other Bitcoin operations whose owners were ultimately tied to the Chinese government.

The El Reno facility on W. Jensen Road is run by Athlon Blockchain LLC. City officials say it may have been operating without permission for about three years. The city issued a stop-work order in June 2023 over fire and life-safety violations and expired permits, and officials believe the site kept running without ever getting a certificate of occupancy.

The leak in late August disrupted water service to nearby businesses, city offices and schools. The city then condemned the property. City Manager Ken Brown admitted the 2023 order “fell through the cracks,” telling KOCO, “We failed in that area.” Mayor Steve Jensen said taxpayers won’t pay for the leak and that the city will bill the property owner for the lost water and the cost of the response.

Bitcoin mining uses large banks of computers that run nonstop and need a lot of power and cooling. Sites like these have become part of a wider debate in several states over permits and oversight.

Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/news-4-investigates-el-reno-031225170.html
https://okcfox.com/news/local/el-reno-says-bitcoin-mining-facility-may-have-operated-unlawfully-before-water-leak
https://www.koco.com/article/el-reno-stop-work-order-water-leak/73585566
https://ktok.iheart.com/featured/ktok-top-stories/content/2026-10-13-el-reno-bitcoin-mining-op-has-ties-to-china/