Bitmain Reportedly Sacks Its Entire BCH Client Team

Beijing-based Bitcoin mining giant Bitmain has laid off its entire Copernicus team which was working on the development of Bitcoin Cash client, according to a tweet by Blockstream Chief Strategy Officer and former BTCC Chief Operational Officer Samson Mow.

Bitmain has quietly laid off their entire Copernicus team ( GO client). Only 1 week notice. Some had just joined the company. Layoffs just in time for Christmas.

— Samson Mow (@Excellion)

This news surfaced as rumors were already going on in the crypto market that the Bitcoin mining hardware giant is already planning to lay off 50 percent of its staffers.

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there’s post on Chinese Linkedin (usually very high accuracy, posted by employees themselves) saying Bitmain will start a layoff the coming week … 😳😳😳

A separate rumor said the plan is for more than 50% of its headcount ???!

— Dovey Wan 🦖 (@DoveyWan)

Bitmain has nearly 2000 employees working for it and such a sudden layoff will definitely put a dent on the crypto industry.
Tough Business Decisions
Though not officially confirmed, it is very likely that the falling prices of Bitcoin have pushed the company to take such a drastic step. Moreover, the plunge of Bitcoin Cash since November also affected the firm as it has a substantial holding of the coin. The firm is also struggling with its in the falling market which was considered to be a lucrative one earlier.
Layoffs Becoming a Norm?
However, Bitmain is not the sole company to have taken such a drastic step amid the market turmoil. US-headquartered laid off 100 employee – nearly – earlier this month and is reportedly eyeing for further layoffs.
Status, an Ethereum-based mobile app developer, has officially announced that the company would be cutting 25 percent of its workforce (around 25 employees). The startup’s cofounder Jarrad Hope, in a town hall meeting, detailed that the company’s decision was fueled by its diminishing war-chest and also urged employees to take pay cuts.
Another blockchain company called Steemit also joined this race and had reduced near about 70 percent of its working employees. Steemit CEO Ned Scott took to his personal YouTube channel to convey this tragic news.
Although these companies are only taking hard business decisions to stay in the business, any blockchain firms like ETCDEV was forced to shut their doors this year amid the market crash.