Bitcoin News Today: As Rig Demand Dips, Bitdeer Expands Self-Mining and AI Operations

Bitdeer Technologies Group (BTDR) is intensifying its Bitcoin self-mining operations as demand for mining rigs wanes, a strategic pivot that underscores broader industry trends in response to the 2024 halving and surging AI infrastructure demand. The company reported a 35% year-over-year expansion in self-mining capacity in August 2025, achieving a hashrate of 30.0 exahashes per second (EH/s), up from 22.3 EH/s in July. This growth propelled Bitdeer to sixth place in global Bitcoin production, with 375 BTC mined in August. The firm aims to reach 40 EH/s by October 2025, aligning with its goal of becoming one of the world's top five Bitcoin miners.

The shift to self-mining reflects a sector-wide response to declining rig sales. Bitdeer, like peers Canaan and others, is repurposing surplus hardware for in-house operations rather than shipping to external clients. In August, 18.0 EH/s of SEALMINER A2 rigs were deployed across the U.S., Norway, and Bhutan, while 2.7 EH/s were en route to these locations. This aligns with industry analyst Wolfie Zhao's observation that "large miners will remain cautious on fleet expansion for the foreseeable future" due to rising network difficulty and compressed margins.

Bitdeer's operational updates highlight both Bitcoin mining and diversification into AI and high-performance computing (HPC). In July 2025, the company paused Bitcoin-related construction at its 570 MW Clarington, Ohio site to prioritize HPC/AI infrastructure. Concurrently, its AI cloud service, Bitdeer.AI, achieved $8 million in annualized revenue, with 8 NVL72 servers in Malaysia set to launch in Q4 2025. This dual strategy mirrors moves by Hive Digital and TeraWulf, which are leveraging idle capacity for AI workloads amid Bitcoin's $126,000 price surge.

Geographically, Bitdeer's infrastructure expansion is advancing rapidly. By August 2025, the firm had energized 1,257 MW of global electrical capacity, with 1,433 MW in the pipeline. Key projects include the Tydal, Norway site (176 MW online) and the Jigmeling, Bhutan facility (235 MW active), both expected to reach full capacity by Q3 2025. The company also secured a 50 MW site in Ethiopia for $7.5 million, leveraging a 4-year power purchase agreement at $0.036/kWh.

Industry data from Hashrate Index's Q4 2025 report reveals the U.S. leading global Bitcoin hashrate with 37.8% (389 EH/s), followed by Russia (15.5%) and China (14.1%). Emerging markets like Ethiopia and Paraguay are gaining traction, with Ethiopia entering the Top 10 for the first time. Bitdeer's strategic diversification into AI and HPC positions it to capitalize on the $200 billion surge in AI infrastructure investments, as major tech firms seek repurposed mining facilities. The company's recent $50 million cash infusion from Tether's warrant exercise further bolsters its liquidity for these initiatives.

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Source: [1] Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitdeer-bitcoin-self-mining-expansion-2025)

[2] Bitdeer Technologies Group (https://ir.bitdeer.com/news-releases/news-release-details/bitdeer-announces-august-2025-production-and-operations-update)

[3] Globe Newswire (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/09/12/3149173/0/en/Bitdeer-Announces-August-2025-Production-and-Operations-Update.html)

[4] Bitdeer Technologies Group (https://ir.bitdeer.com/news-releases/news-release-details/bitdeer-announces-july-2025-production-and-operations-update)

[7] Hashrate Index (https://hashrateindex.com/blog/global-hashrate-heatmap-update-q4-2025/)