 ▲ Bitcoin (BTC), Cryptocurrency Mining, Artificial Intelligence (AI) / ChatGPT Generated Image |
MARA Holdings (MARA), the world’s largest Bitcoin (BTC) mining company, has initiated an aggressive expansion into the artificial intelligence data center market by acquiring a subsidiary of France’s state-owned power company.
According to a February 21 (local time) report by Cointelegraph, MARA Holdings has acquired a 51% stake in EXAION, the digital subsidiary of France’s state-owned electricity company EDF, securing management control. Through this acquisition, MARA plans to diversify its revenue structure by expanding its existing cryptocurrency mining capabilities into high-performance computing (HPC) and AI data center operations. The move signals a strategic evolution beyond a simple mining company toward becoming a comprehensive computing infrastructure enterprise.
EXAION has been supplying sustainable data center solutions in the European market, and through this stake acquisition, MARA has significantly strengthened its computing infrastructure presence in Europe. The two companies plan to collaborate on building environmentally friendly data center models that recycle heat generated during cryptocurrency mining and efficiently utilize renewable energy. Leveraging EXAION’s technological expertise, MARA is also expected to accelerate its entry into the enterprise AI cloud services market. The combination of MARA’s power management know-how and EXAION’s specialized data center operation capabilities is anticipated to create substantial synergies.
MARA has been meticulously preparing since last year to pivot toward AI computing in response to rising Bitcoin mining difficulty and declining profitability following the halving. Partnering with a subsidiary of a state-owned power company in Europe—where electricity supply is highly sensitive—provides a strong foundation for stable business expansion. This acquisition represents a key step for MARA to expand its influence in the global AI infrastructure market and secure a competitive edge in high-value data services. The vast power facilities originally built for Bitcoin mining can now be converted into computational resources for AI training and inference, creating a new growth engine that enhances corporate asset value.
Within the cryptocurrency industry, the trend of Bitcoin mining companies expanding into AI data centers is expected to accelerate further. In addition to MARA, major mining firms such as Core Scientific and Riot Platforms have already made large-scale investments to secure AI computing resources. Efforts to leverage mining hardware’s computational power for AI applications are contributing to stabilizing corporate revenue models and enhancing credibility in traditional financial markets. The Bitcoin mining industry is now at a turning point, being reshaped into a highly advanced computing sector.
MARA plans to use this acquisition as a springboard to establish leadership in the global AI infrastructure market and accelerate its transformation into a comprehensive computing technology company. The expansion of eco-friendly data center infrastructure within Europe is expected to be a decisive factor in strengthening MARA’s long-term sustainability.
*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and no responsibility is taken for any investment losses resulting from it. The content should be interpreted solely for informational purposes.*