According to CryptoPotato, Texas energy grid operator ERCOT has long maintained an informal relationship with crypto mining companies in the state. Since crypto mining companies usually require a lot of electricity to support their activities, ERCOT chooses to maintain a friendly relationship with them rather than trying to suppress their activities. At a critical moment, ERCOT provides energy credits in exchange for reducing energy consumption. As the northern hemisphere experienced one of the hottest summers in recent years, Texas' energy grid was at risk of overload due to a sharp increase in the use of air conditioning equipment. In order to avoid unfortunate accidents, ERCOT asked crypto miners such as Riot Platforms to reduce energy consumption. In compensation, ERCOT provided mining companies with energy credits worth $31.7 million, a figure slightly higher than the potential earnings from mining and selling Bitcoin in August.