# Transition Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Transition", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Amid a 38GW Power Shortage, Why Have Bitcoin Mining Facilities Suddenly Become the New Gateway to AI Compute?

Under the impending threat of a 38GW power deficit projected for US data centers between 2026-2028, decommissioned Bitcoin mining sites are emerging as critical infrastructure for AI compute. A growing number of listed North American miners—including TeraWulf, Hut 8, and Cipher Mining—are pivoting to become "Powered Shell Providers." They are repurposing their existing assets: pre-approved grid connections, land, and substations to offer ready-to-use data center shells to cloud providers and AI companies. This shift capitalizes on the severe bottleneck in securing new, large-scale power access, which can take 5-7 years. Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate retrofitted mining facilities could supply 10-19GW of the needed capacity. The core value proposition is no longer cryptocurrency mining, but selling a scarce "time to power" advantage in the race for AI infrastructure.

华尔街日报08/02 08:51

Amid a 38GW Power Shortage, Why Have Bitcoin Mining Facilities Suddenly Become the New Gateway to AI Compute?

华尔街日报08/02 08:51

Head of Major Miner Estimates AI Profitability Ten Times Higher Than Mining

The CEO of Canadian mining company HIVE Digital Technologies, Frank Holmes, stated that the company is accelerating its development in artificial intelligence (AI) computing. HIVE, one of the world's largest public bitcoin miners controlling about 2% of the global hashrate, expects its revenue share from AI to grow from approximately 10% to over 50% this year. Holmes highlighted the significant difference in profitability, noting that ASIC miners generate around $0.12–0.14 per hour, while a single Nvidia H100 GPU can earn nearly $2 per hour. Even older GPUs yield about $1.4 per hour, roughly ten times the revenue from mining hardware. Major miners like Riot Platforms, Cipher Digital, MARA, and TeraWulf are mitigating losses by shifting from cryptocurrency mining to supporting AI computations in their data centers or combining both activities. For instance, MARA Holdings recently purchased a $600 million site for AI and mining data centers. The company's CEO had previously warned that without at least a 50% annual increase in Bitcoin's price, the current mining model would become unprofitable. With the estimated cost to mine one Bitcoin around $78,000 for summer 2026 and Bitcoin's price remaining below that level for months, some miners have begun shutting down equipment as rising costs and network difficulty squeeze margins.

cryptonews.ru07/31 16:58

Head of Major Miner Estimates AI Profitability Ten Times Higher Than Mining

cryptonews.ru07/31 16:58

Miners Advised Not to Buy GPUs for AI and to Focus on Infrastructure

A founder at an energy investment forum advises bitcoin miners not to purchase GPUs for AI themselves, but to instead focus on infrastructure like power and data center space. Mike Alfred of Alpine Fox stated that while AI infrastructure demand is a long-term, 20-30 year trend, it presents a key choice for miners. The first, riskier model involves owning and operating GPUs, which requires financing expensive hardware that quickly becomes obsolete. The second, more conservative model is akin to real estate: providing colocation services where clients bring their own servers, and the miner sells space, power, cooling, and water. Alfred noted this model is easier to finance. Most existing bitcoin mining sites are difficult and expensive to convert for AI, as AI data centers require far higher construction costs, redundant fiber connections, backup power, complex cooling, and near 100% uptime. A hybrid model, where mining acts as a flexible load to use excess power during AI data center construction or from generation facilities, was discussed. However, participants concluded this is only viable with very cheap power; otherwise, developers are better off focusing solely on AI. Miners are increasingly being evaluated for their available power capacity and project portfolios rather than just bitcoin output. Panelists also warned of risks in the AI sector, predicting at least one major default or contract breach among AI tenants, lenders, or landlords before bitcoin's next halving in 2028.

cryptonews.ru07/28 11:26

Miners Advised Not to Buy GPUs for AI and to Focus on Infrastructure

cryptonews.ru07/28 11:26

Bitcoin Mining Farms Are Becoming AI Factories

Bitcoin mines are transforming into AI factories. This shift is driven by the convergence of three key assets from the previous crypto cycle: infrastructure, talent, and capital. Crypto mining companies like Crusoe, CoreWeave, and Bitdeer are repurposing their core competency—securing power, land, and grid connections in remote locations—to build data centers for AI clients. These firms are signing multi-billion dollar, long-term contracts with companies like Anthropic, AWS, and Microsoft, as AI's demand for reliable, high-capacity compute surpasses the profitability of Bitcoin mining. Simultaneously, crypto entrepreneurs and engineers are applying their skills to new AI ventures. Examples include OpenSea's co-founder launching OpenRouter (an AI model aggregator), and former Coinbase engineers building Fal.ai (a generative media infrastructure platform). Their experience in building scalable, global software networks translates effectively to the AI space. Furthermore, capital accumulated during the crypto boom is now fueling AI. Figures like Jed McCaleb (co-founder of Ripple) funded Voltage Park, a large-scale GPU cloud provider. Notably, some crypto investments, like FTX's early bets on Anthropic and Cursor, have generated astronomical paper returns, demonstrating how high-risk crypto capital flowed into AI before it became mainstream. The transition is not just about repurposing hardware, but about redirecting critical resources—power infrastructure, distributed systems expertise, and venture funding—to the next technological frontier: artificial intelligence.

链捕手07/22 06:33

Bitcoin Mining Farms Are Becoming AI Factories

链捕手07/22 06:33

The Ethereum Foundation is Dead, The Era of Ethereum's Pluralistic Organizations Has Dawned

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has announced the dissolution of its Protocol Support Team, marking a significant organizational shift. This move, described as the largest layoff in EF's history with a 20% staff reduction, follows a major internal restructuring announced in late June. The restructuring, which EF framed as necessary to streamline for future challenges, has drawn criticism for its perceived cold execution. Concurrently, several new independent non-profit organizations have emerged, founded by former EF members. These include Ethlabs, a research and development lab, and Ethereum Institutional, which focuses on promoting institutional adoption of Ethereum. Their rise is seen as both filling roles vacated by EF's downsizing and signaling a fragmentation of the Ethereum ecosystem's leadership. Amidst these changes, EF is also integrating advanced AI tools into its security operations. The security team has begun using AI agents to conduct red-team testing, which has already uncovered vulnerabilities in Ethereum's code. While EF states that AI complements rather than replaces human researchers, this technological shift hints at potential future reductions in human-centric roles within the organization. The article posits that these developments—massive layoffs, the exodus of key personnel like former Executive Director Xiaowei Wang, the rise of rival organizations, and AI integration—collectively point to a decline in EF's central authority. Once the undisputed leader of the Ethereum ecosystem, EF now faces questions about its future role, with speculation that it may evolve into more of a symbolic "ecosystem mascot" rather than a driving force for growth and adoption. This organizational turmoil unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing market pressure and community debate over Ethereum's value proposition.

marsbit07/10 08:35

The Ethereum Foundation is Dead, The Era of Ethereum's Pluralistic Organizations Has Dawned

marsbit07/10 08:35

Mining Scale Skyrockets: Why Can't Bitdeer Hold onto Its Bitcoin?

Bitdeer's May 2026 operational data reveals a stark contrast: while its Bitcoin mining output surged to 921 BTC, a 370% year-over-year increase, its end-of-month holdings plummeted to just 171 BTC. This significant disparity highlights that the company, amidst a strategic pivot towards AI cloud infrastructure, continues to rely heavily on selling newly mined Bitcoin to fund operations and expansion, despite reporting a steady $69 million in annualized recurring AI revenue. The trend is consistent with Q1 2026 figures, where mining output reached 2,033 BTC but holdings were a mere 31 BTC, with $206.8 million from digital asset disposals. While the AI business, showing 90% GPU utilization, offers a potential future cash flow buffer to reduce dependency on Bitcoin sales, its current contribution to actual confirmed revenue remains limited. The transformation introduces new risks related to client acquisition, capital-intensive data center projects like Tydal, and delivery timelines. The core question raised is whether the AI venture will successfully generate sufficient stable cash flow to allow Bitdeer to retain more of its mining proceeds as Bitcoin treasury assets, or if the shift merely changes the form of financial pressure while Bitcoin reserves continue to dwindle.

Foresight News06/22 06:07

Mining Scale Skyrockets: Why Can't Bitdeer Hold onto Its Bitcoin?

Foresight News06/22 06:07

Mining Companies' High-Stakes Bet on AI: Valuations Enter a Phase of Divergence, Uphill Battle Ahead

Crypto miners are facing increasing pressure amid weak digital asset markets, pushing many to pivot towards AI infrastructure as a new growth avenue. Leveraging existing assets like power resources, land, and cooling systems, miners can convert facilities for AI compute at lower costs. This transition narrative has fueled significant stock rallies, with some miners' shares outperforming Bitcoin year-to-date. Market valuations have diverged, with pioneers like CoreWeave reaching a multi-billion dollar valuation, while others lag. The shift is driven by AI's explosive demand for data centers and compute, with clients willing to pay premiums for power and space. However, the transformation is capital-intensive, requiring massive funding for GPU procurement and facility upgrades, with an estimated short-term funding gap of $50 billion. Miners are raising capital through convertible bonds, Bitcoin sales, and securing long-term AI contracts to finance the build-out. While AI offers greater long-term potential than mining, success hinges on execution, timely project delivery, and securing quality tenants, moving the valuation focus from power capacity to cash flow and return metrics.

marsbit06/20 02:10

Mining Companies' High-Stakes Bet on AI: Valuations Enter a Phase of Divergence, Uphill Battle Ahead

marsbit06/20 02:10

Bitcoin Mining Farm Transforms into AI Data Center: Sangha's 'Sell-Out' Decision

"Sangha, a cryptocurrency mining company, is considering selling its recently operational Genesis bitcoin mining facility in Texas. Despite being profitable due to low-cost power (approximately $32/MWh), the company is exploring a sale, joint venture, or strategic partnership, advised by Marathon Capital. The core value of the 19.9MW site lies not in the mining hardware but in its established, scalable power infrastructure—a direct connection to a 180MW solar farm with plans to expand to 110.4MW. This makes it an attractive, ready-to-use asset for AI or high-performance computing (HPC) companies seeking to avoid lengthy permitting and grid connection processes. Sangha's move reflects a broader industry trend where mining operators are pivoting towards higher-value AI compute opportunities. The decision represents a strategic shift from building a long-term 'win-win-win' mining model to capitalizing on the current premium demand for AI-ready power and data center infrastructure."

marsbit06/17 02:47

Bitcoin Mining Farm Transforms into AI Data Center: Sangha's 'Sell-Out' Decision

marsbit06/17 02:47

When Vitalik Stops Blogging to Write Sci-Fi

Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, has announced a pause in his long-form technical blogging to instead write a science fiction novel exploring decentralized governance. The story, set in a fictional nation called Veridia, follows a member of a governance body that uses complex systems like quadratic voting, privacy-preserving audits, and AI-assisted decision-making to guide society through incentive structures rather than outright bans. This creative shift comes at a pivotal moment for the Ethereum ecosystem. The Ethereum Foundation has seen significant internal upheaval in 2026, with at least nine core contributors, including key protocol leaders, departing. Just days before his announcement, Vitalik published a statement addressing this turbulence, framing the Foundation as a "smaller ship" that will now focus on core principles like censorship resistance and security, while moving from a growth-oriented to a sustainability-focused organization. The novel's themes directly mirror Vitalik's long-standing technical interests in governance mechanisms. Community reactions are mixed: some see it as a thoughtful exploration of ideas through narrative, while others view the timing—amidst core team departures and a significant drop in ETH's price—as pointedly symbolic. The move is also interpreted as a personal transition, signaling Vitalik's evolving role from a central executive figure to one of many decentralized thought leaders within the Ethereum ecosystem.

marsbit05/28 02:50

When Vitalik Stops Blogging to Write Sci-Fi

marsbit05/28 02:50

CEO's Unexpected Passing: Will ONDO's 'Tokenization Narrative' Change?

Ondo Finance, a leading project in the RWA (Real World Assets) and tokenization space, faces a significant challenge following the unexpected passing of its founder and CEO, Nathan Allman. Known for his traditional finance background and pivotal role in shaping Ondo's strategy, Allman was central to its evolution from a DeFi structured yield platform to a key player tokenizing assets like US treasuries, stocks, and ETFs. The company announced that President Ian De Bode, a former McKinsey partner with deep experience in digital assets and corporate strategy, will assume the CEO role. The leadership transition presents a critical test for Ondo. While Allman's vision and execution were instrumental in establishing its "tokenization narrative," the project's medium to long-term trajectory will depend on the existing team's ability to maintain business continuity. Analysts note short-term concerns regarding vision continuity, institutional partnerships, and market sentiment for the ONDO token. However, Ondo has built a substantial product suite (OUSG, USDY, Ondo Global Markets) and a management team with strong traditional finance credentials. De Bode's background in strategy and execution may align well with the next phase of RWA growth, which focuses heavily on compliance, scaling, and institutional adoption. Ultimately, the event shifts focus to whether Ondo is a founder-driven story or a sustainable financial infrastructure. Its future as a "first tokenization asset" will be determined by the new leadership's success in delivering product growth, asset scaling, and real-world demand, rather than narrative alone.

marsbit05/26 12:35

CEO's Unexpected Passing: Will ONDO's 'Tokenization Narrative' Change?