MARA Takes Controlling Stake in French AI Data Center Operator Exaion
Bitcoin miner MARA has acquired a majority stake in AI data center firm Exaion, expanding into AI and cloud services.Summary
MARA Holdings has completed the purchase of a 64% stake in French computing infrastructure operator Exaion, a move that deepens its involvement in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services. The deal, initially agreed upon in August 2025 with EDF Pulse Ventures, has received regulatory approval. EDF will remain a minority shareholder and continue as a customer. As part of the partnership, NJJ Capital, backed by Xavier Niel, will take a 10% stake in MARA France. This investment reflects a broader trend among Bitcoin miners to diversify into AI and data center computing to offset pressures on mining economics, particularly after the 2024 halving and rising network difficulty. Companies like HIVE Digital Technologies and CoreWeave have already successfully transitioned to hybrid models, and others, including TeraWulf and Hut 8, are repurposing facilities for AI. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s mining difficulty recently increased by 15%, adding to the challenges faced by miners.
(Source：Cointelegraph)