Bitcoin Miners Core Scientific, Iris Energy Merge Mining With AI Data Centers: Bernstein

Bernstein analysts in a recent note highlighted the hybrid strategy of Bitcoin miners focusing on AI data centers.

What Happened: The analysts spotlighted the emerging “mullet strategy” – AI in the front, Bitcoin in the back. It combines cryptocurrency mining with AI data center operations.

“We are seeing significant investor interest in miners pursuing AI/HPC,” the Bernstein analysts note. This pivot allows miners to tap into growing demand for AI compute power while leveraging their existing infrastructure and power capacity.

Miners In Focus 

Core Scientific CORZ exemplifies this approach with its recent $6.7 billion deal to provide AI data centre hosting for CoreWeave. 

Other major players like Iris Energy IREN and Cipher Mining CIPH are also pursuing AI partnerships and data center buildouts.

Also Read: Bitcoin Miners’ Profits Dipped In July Compared To June: Jeffries

Caution Ahead 

Bernstein analysts caution that Bitcoin mining and AI data centers remain “completely different businesses” despite some operational overlap. 

They suggest two viable paths forward – either doubling down on Bitcoin mining market share or fully committing to the AI data center transition.

For pure-play Bitcoin miners, the analysts recommend focusing on growing hash rate faster than the total network and holding mined Bitcoin until prices inflect higher. 

Meanwhile, miners pivoting to AI need both impressive power portfolios and reliable data center capabilities to attract major partners.

The ‘Natural Advantage'

The report also notes U.S.-listed miners have a "natural advantage" in accessing capital markets to fund expansion. This positions them well as potential market consolidators as the industry evolves.

Overall, Bernstein analysts see the mining landscape "split right down the middle" between Bitcoin purists and AI-focused operators. 

As institutional interest grows, miners must choose their strategy carefully to attract investment and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

What’s Next: The influence of Bitcoin as an institutional asset class is expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga’s upcoming Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19.

Read Next: 

• Bitcoin Miners Expand Capacity As Network Hashrate Hits New Record Despite Recent Price Drop