Bitcoin News Today: MARA invests $168M to acquire 64% stake in Exaion for AI and HPC expansion

MARA Holdings, a leading Bitcoin mining firm, has agreed to invest $168 million to acquire a 64% stake in Exaion, a high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure provider and subsidiary of the EDF Group [1]. This strategic investment positions MARA to expand its digital infrastructure capabilities beyond cryptocurrency mining into the AI and HPC sectors, leveraging Exaion’s advanced technologies and global partnerships with firms such as NVIDIA and Deloitte [2]. Under the terms of the agreement, MARA has the option to increase its ownership to 75% by 2027 by injecting an additional $127 million, subject to the achievement of predefined milestones [3]. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approval [4].

The acquisition reflects MARA’s broader strategy to diversify its business model and enter high-growth technology markets. By integrating Exaion’s HPC and AI capabilities, MARA aims to enhance its capacity to deliver scalable and energy-efficient data center solutions [5]. Exaion’s expertise in secure cloud computing and energy-efficient infrastructure aligns with MARA’s digital energy initiatives, which focus on reducing the carbon footprint of high-performance computing applications [6]. Post-transaction, Exaion will benefit from MARA’s financial and operational support, enabling it to scale its international deployment and accelerate its technological development [7].

EDF, Exaion’s current parent company, will retain a minority stake in the firm. The EDF Group’s Head of Innovation, Julien Villeret, stated that the partnership would allow Exaion to maintain its relationship with EDF while advancing its global ambitions [8]. Fred Thiel, Chairman and CEO of MARA, emphasized that the collaboration would combine the strengths of two industry leaders in data center development and digital energy to address rising demands for secure, energy-efficient computing solutions [9]. This partnership is expected to support both enterprise and government clients in managing their data and energy needs in an increasingly digital world [10].

The move aligns with a growing trend in the technology and energy sectors, as firms seek to enter or expand their presence in AI and HPC markets driven by the global demand for secure and efficient computing infrastructure [11]. MARA’s foray into this space is also seen as a strategic response to the increasing environmental concerns associated with blockchain and digital infrastructure. Exaion’s AI-driven cooling and energy management systems are expected to play a key role in improving operational efficiency and sustainability [12].

Legal and financial advisory services for the transaction are being provided by multiple firms, including Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier for MARA, Stifel Financial Corp. and Coblence avocats for Exaion, and Ashurst for EDF Pulse Ventures [13]. MARA has also highlighted the risks associated with its securities and urged investors to review its SEC filings for forward-looking statements and risk disclosures [14].

Source:

[1] Cointelegraph, [https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-miners-acquires-majority-stake-iai-firm-exaion](https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-miners-acquires-majority-stake-iai-firm-exaion)

[2] MARA, [https://www.mara.com/posts/mara-edf-pulse-ventures-sign-investment-agreement-in-subsidiary-exaion-to-expand-maras-global-ai-hpc](https://www.mara.com/posts/mara-edf-pulse-ventures-sign-investment-agreement-in-subsidiary-exaion-to-expand-maras-global-ai-hpc)

[3] GlobeNewswire, [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](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)

[4] AInvest, [https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-mara-acquires-64-stake-exaion-168m-expand-ai-hpc-presence-2508/](https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-mara-acquires-64-stake-exaion-168m-expand-ai-hpc-presence-2508/)

[5] Binance, [https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/28192472750193](https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/28192472750193)

[6] Stocktitan, [https://www.stocktitan.net/news/MARA/mara-and-edf-pulse-ventures-sign-investment-agreement-in-subsidiary-f54267sui9tm.html](https://www.stocktitan.net/news/MARA/mara-and-edf-pulse-ventures-sign-investment-agreement-in-subsidiary-f54267sui9tm.html)

[11] Greenstocknews, [https://greenstocknews.com/cleantech/blockchain](https://greenstocknews.com/cleantech/blockchain)