Southern Block Capital Focusing on Bitcoin as It Rides Digital Wave

The entrepreneurs behind Southern Block Capital, a Bitcoin mining investment firm based in Little Rock, are optimistic that their second fundraising round will build on the success of the first.

Ryan Herget, the man behind Arkansas startup uber-success stories Chef Shuttle and Good Day Farm, said he expects the recent launch of the firm’s Fund II to build on the strong foundation of the first fundraising round, which he said is performing ahead of schedule. Herget launched Southern Block Capital with Steve Landers Jr. and Dustin Curtis of Interstate Holdings.

Steve Landers Jr.

“Things are going very well,” Herget said. “Our first fund was built around a clear thesis: utilizing Bitcoin mining as a reliable, capital-efficient way to monetize contracted power profitably while preserving optionality in how that power can be utilized over time. By operating at the low end of the cost curve, the model is designed to perform across market cycles — benefiting from higher prices when markets are strong and capturing a greater share of transaction fees as less efficient operators exit during downturns, helping protect revenue when prices soften.”

Fund I demonstrates that Bitcoin mining provides dependable cash flow today while keeping future pathways open as power markets evolve, he said, adding that its success is the primary reason Fund II was launched just months after the first.

Ryan Herget

“The second fund builds directly on the strong foundation of the first, using the same proven operating approach and equipment profile,” Herget said. “We officially kicked off Fund II this week and are currently in the process of raising capital. Even at this early stage, we’ve received significant commitments from Fund I investors while also selectively engaging a small number of outside investors to give them exposure to what we’re building. We are targeting full operations for Fund II by the end of May. Our focus remains unchanged: disciplined deployment, reliable infrastructure and repeatable execution. This fund is meaningfully larger than the first, reflecting robust investor interest and the scalability of the model.”

As the world slips ever closer to a fully digitalized banking system, Herget said he believes cryptocurrency and blockchain will be “a seamlessly integrated part of everyday life, operating largely in the background but enabling faster, more efficient systems across finance and beyond” in five years.

Dustin Curtis

“Blockchain has applications well beyond digital assets, from recordkeeping to infrastructure coordination,” he said. “Crypto enables real-time, global transactions that can occur anytime without relying on traditional institutions to process or settle them. Over time, users won’t focus on the terminology. They’ll simply expect systems that are instant, transparent and always available. A good comparison is online banking or payment apps today. Most users don’t think about the underlying mechanics. They just expect speed, reliability and constant availability. That’s the direction this technology is heading: less novelty, more everyday utility.”

Potential roadblocks to the continued advancement of digital assets include the critical role of infrastructure and, of course, volatility. That is why Southern Block Capital focuses on infrastructure, building and operating mining facilities rather than simply holding or trading digital assets, Herget said.

“Think of it this way: When you wire money, your bank maintains the ledger, processes the transaction and charges a fee,” he said. “Bitcoin works similarly but without a central intermediary. Instead, a decentralized network, powered by our miners, handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily and keeps the ledger accurate and secure. Our machines run 24/7 to perform that essential work, validating transactions and securing the network. In return, we earn compensation in Bitcoin, much like a bank earns wire fees. We do convert some Bitcoin to cash to cover power bills and operating expenses, but we also hold a meaningful portion of Bitcoin on our balance sheet because we believe in Bitcoin’s long-term role and value.”