Bitcoin News Today: France Eyes Bitcoin Mining Using Surplus Nuclear Energy to Boost Profits

France is considering a proposal to utilize surplus electricity from its nuclear power plants for bitcoin mining, a move that could leverage the country’s significant energy production capacity [1]. A group of lawmakers is drafting a bill that would allow the installation of mining hardware at facilities operated by state-owned utility Électricité de France (EDF). The initiative aims to harness excess energy generated by nuclear reactors, which currently go unused [1].

Aurélien Lopez-Liguori, one of the parliamentarians involved, described the plan as “a secure and extremely profitable solution,” emphasizing its potential economic benefits [1]. The proposal builds on an earlier, rejected amendment from June that sought to evaluate the role of cryptocurrency mining in France’s energy strategy. While the current draft is still in its initial stages, it reflects a growing interest in repurposing surplus energy for high-consumption industries like crypto mining [1].

France is the largest producer of nuclear energy in the European Union, accounting for over half of the bloc’s total output in 2023, according to Eurostat data. The country generated 338,202 gigawatt hours of nuclear energy that year. However, the agency also noted that more than two-thirds of the heat produced by nuclear fission is lost during the process [1]. This surplus capacity presents a unique opportunity to power energy-intensive operations like bitcoin mining without increasing overall energy consumption [1].

The idea of using idle energy for mining is not new. In May, Pakistan allocated 2,000 megawatts of underutilized coal-generated electricity for bitcoin mining and AI data centers. Meanwhile, Tether, one of the largest stablecoin issuers, is exploring BTC mining using surplus renewable energy from South American agribusiness firm Adecoagro [1].

The French proposal could set a precedent for other countries seeking to maximize the use of their energy infrastructure. However, it will need to address concerns about environmental impact, energy efficiency, and the potential volatility of the cryptocurrency market. If approved, the plan could redefine how surplus energy is managed in the EU and beyond.

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[1] https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/08/04/french-mps-float-plan-to-mine-bitcoin-with-surplus-nuclear-energy