🔥 MARA Powers 80,000 Finnish Homes with Residual Heat

MARA has launched an innovative project in Finland that uses the residual heat generated from Bitcoin mining to provide centralized heating for local residents. Initiated in June 2024, the project initially aimed to heat 11,000 people in the Satakunta region.

However, its success has led to significant expansion, and it now benefits 80,000 residents. The heat produced by the ASICs is directed to a heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred into water at a temperature range of 25-35°C. The heated water is then transported via underground pipelines to district heating centers.

At these centers, heat pumps further raise the water temperature to 80°C, making it suitable for distribution throughout homes and buildings in the area. This approach not only provides a sustainable heating solution for residents but also allows MARA to lower its operational costs and reduce carbon emissions.

The cooled water is then cycled back to the data centers, where it is reheated, creating a continuous loop of heat recovery that benefits both the community and the company.

This project is a good real-life showcase of how Bitcoin mining can be repurposed to provide environmental and economic benefits, helping to meet the heating needs of thousands of households while contributing to sustainability goals.

⛏️ In The News

• TeraWulf will lease 70 MW of its New York data center infrastructure to AI provider Core42, marking a strategic pivot into AI.

• The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warns that surging energy demand from mining and AI data centers could strain energy grids, necessitating improved forecasting and reliability measures to manage peak load fluctuations and ensure grid stability.

• Russia has implemented a six-year ban on mining in 10 regions starting in 2025, while key mining areas like Irkutsk will face seasonal restrictions during peak energy demand to prevent blackouts.

• At the same time, Russia has embraced cryptocurrency, including BTC, for international payments, marking a significant policy shift as businesses leverage crypto to facilitate trade and bypass frozen reserves.

• Kyrgyzstan's cryptocurrency mining tax revenue fell over 50% YoY in 2024, despite its abundant renewable energy resources making it an attractive hub for miners.

• Power outages in Iran have reignited debates over illegal Bitcoin mining's strain on the electricity grid, though experts argue the deeper issue lies in outdated power plants and inadequate fuel reserves.

👁️ IREN Surpasses Initial Goal by 11 EH/s

• IREN achieved its year-end target of 31 EH/s, surpassing its original goal of 20 EH/s.

• The company expanded its operating capacity from 20MW at Childress to 350MW, increasing self-mining capacity to 31 EH/s and achieving 15 J/TH efficiency.

• IREN’s team of 500+ on-site workers played a key role in this expansion through disciplined procurement, construction, safety, and innovation efforts.

• The Childress project now supports 350MW, with 400MW of additional power available at the 750MW project, enabling further growth.

• IREN is on track to reach 50 EH/s by the first half of 2025, with ongoing construction of Phases 4 & 5 (2 x 150MW), and pre-purchased S21 Pro miners secured at a fixed price of $18.9/TH.

🫧 CleanSpark Surpassed Year-End-Target

• CleanSpark surpassed its 2024 year-end target (37 EH/s), achieving 37.5 EH/s in operating hashrate, with fleet efficiency at 17.7 J/Th, expected to improve further.

• New data centers in Tennessee and Wyoming were energized, contributing to the hashrate increase, with ongoing site expansion planned.

• The company’s growth strategy includes greenfield infrastructure, site expansion, and strategic M&A, funded by recent capital raises.

• CleanSpark aims for 50 EH/s in the first half of 2025, fully funded and on track.

• Its data center portfolio spans Georgia, Wyoming, Tennessee, Mississippi, and New York.

• The company increased its hashrate by nearly 300% since early 2024.

• A $650m zero-coupon convertible bond offering will fund the 50 EH/s expansion.

• CleanSpark’s BTC treasury is approaching 10,000 BTC, all mined in-house.

• For 2025, the company will focus on efficient bitcoin mining and operational excellence.

🐝 HIVE Invests $30m in NVIDIA GPU Clusters to Accelerate AI Growth

• HIVE announced a $30m investment in NVIDIA H100 and H200 GPU clusters to be deployed in Quebec, enhancing its position in AI and HPC sectors.

• The H100 cluster, with 248 GPUs, will generate an annualized revenue of $15m, while the H200 cluster, with 508 GPUs, is expected to bring in $20m by Q2 2025.

• Both clusters will be powered by 100% renewable energy, aligning with HIVE's sustainability goals.

• HIVE aims for over $20m in annualized HPC revenue by Q2 2025, focusing on cloud computing and AI model training. The company is strategically expanding into high-performance computing, targeting $100m in annual revenue by 2025.