Bitcoin News Today: MARA Acquires 64% Stake in Exaion for $168M to Expand AI and HPC Presence

MARA Holdings, a leading Bitcoin miner and digital energy infrastructure company, has signed a $168 million agreement to acquire a 64% stake in Exaion, a high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure firm, from EDF Pulse Ventures, the venture arm of EDF Group [1]. The deal marks MARA’s most significant foray into AI and HPC, aligning with its broader strategic shift from traditional Bitcoin mining into adjacent energy-efficient technology markets. The acquisition also includes an option for MARA to increase its ownership to 75% by 2027, provided it meets performance-based milestones, through an additional $127 million investment [2].

Exaion, a subsidiary of the French state-owned EDF Group, has developed secure HPC and AI cloud infrastructure in collaboration with technology partners such as NVIDIA and Deloitte [3]. The firm’s expertise in scalable data center development and cloud services is expected to complement MARA’s digital energy solutions, enabling the combined entity to offer secure and efficient computing solutions tailored to the growing AI market [4]. Exaion was launched through EDF’s innovation incubation program, and the deal allows EDF to retain a minority stake while leveraging Exaion’s services, underscoring confidence in its future growth [5].

MARA’s CEO and chairman, Fred Thiel, emphasized that the move was a calculated step to align with rising global priorities such as data security and energy efficiency. “Rather than retrofitting existing mining facilities, we’re investing in a partner who already has the expertise, customer base, and track record in the space,” he said [6]. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and other conditions [7].

The timing of the deal is notable, as MARA faces increasing operational challenges in Bitcoin mining. The recent surge in Bitcoin mining difficulty has heightened energy costs and reduced profit margins, prompting the company to diversify its revenue streams. While MARA remains the largest Bitcoin miner by production and network hash rate, it has been one of the last major players to expand into AI and HPC. The deal allows it to bypass early-stage development and enter the market with an established partner [8].

The acquisition also follows a recent production dip for MARA, which mined 703 Bitcoin in July—its lowest monthly output in a while. However, the firm reported a 64% year-on-year revenue increase to $238 million in Q2 2025, while still holding a significant Bitcoin treasury valued at nearly $6 billion [9]. This financial strength supports its strategic pivot and positions the firm to compete in the fast-evolving AI infrastructure space.

Legal and financial advisors for MARA include Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier and Stifel Financial Corp., while Exaion is represented by Coblence avocats and EDF Pulse Ventures by Ashurst [10]. The transaction is viewed as a milestone in MARA’s evolution from a pure-play Bitcoin miner to a diversified digital infrastructure company with a presence in AI, HPC, and energy management. With the global demand for AI infrastructure on the rise, the move could position MARA to capitalize on a growing market with long-term scalability and sustainability.

Source:

[1] MARA & EDF Pulse Ventures Sign Investment Agreement (https://www.mara.com/posts/mara-edf-pulse-ventures-sign-investment-agreement-in-subsidiary-exaion-to-expand-maras-global-ai-hpc)

[2] MARA and EDF Pulse Ventures Sign Investment Agreement in Subsidiary Exaion to Expand MARA’s Global AI/HPC Capabilities (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/11/3131341/0/en/MARA-and-EDF-Pulse-Ventures-Sign-Investment-Agreement-in-Subsidiary-Exaion-to-Expand-MARA-s-Global-AI-HPC-Capabilities.html)

[6] Bitcoin miner MARA to acquire majority stake in Exaion in AI, HPC play (https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-miners-acquires-majority-stake-iai-firm-exaion?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound)