AI Power Demand Fuels Nuclear Revival — Bitcoin Miners Were Early Adopters

Artificial intelligence and data center expansion are significantly increasing the demand for reliable electricity, leading to a renewed interest in nuclear power in the United States. Major utilities are anticipating a “nuclear renaissance,” driven by long-term power contracts with AI hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. These companies are increasingly backing entire nuclear facilities to ensure a consistent supply of carbon-free electricity. Interestingly, Bitcoin miners were among the first to explore colocating high-performance computing with large baseload energy sources like nuclear power, recognizing its potential as critical infrastructure. For example, TeraWulf partnered with Talen Energy to develop a mining facility next to a nuclear power plant in 2021. Research indicates that nuclear energy’s share in Bitcoin mining has grown from around 4% in 2021 to nearly 10% currently, with sustainable sources accounting for over 52% of Bitcoin mining’s electricity consumption. The emergence of small modular reactors (SMRs) further supports this trend, offering faster deployment and easier collocation with energy-intensive operations.

(Source：Cointelegraph)