CleanSpark Soars 8.7% on Texas Expansion: Can AI Infrastructure Fuel Sustained Momentum?

Summary
• CleanSpark (CLSK) surges 8.7% to $13.65, driven by a landmark Texas land acquisition for AI data centers.
• Intraday high of $14.01 and low of $12.77 highlight volatile momentum amid sector-wide AI infrastructure bets.
• 52-week high of $23.61 remains distant, but 52-week low of $6.452 underscores long-term potential.

CleanSpark’s stock has erupted on news of a 447-acre Texas land deal to build a 600 MW AI data center hub. The move aligns with surging demand for AI-native compute and positions the company to capitalize on the U.S. infrastructure boom. With Bitcoin mining as a foundational asset and AI as the new growth engine, CLSK’s trajectory hinges on execution and sector dynamics.

Texas Expansion Ignites AI Infrastructure Optimism
CleanSpark’s 8.7% rally stems from its definitive agreement to acquire 447 acres in Brazoria County, Texas, alongside a transmission facilities extension. This strategic move enables a 600 MW data center project targeting AI and high-performance computing workloads. The acquisition, part of CleanSpark’s broader Houston region expansion, positions the company to develop a regional power hub with over 890 MW of potential capacity. CEO Matt Schultz emphasized the criticality of securing transmission-level power in constrained markets, while the project’s scalability and proximity to leading AI customers amplify its strategic value. The news coincides with broader industry trends, including Microsoft’s $17.4B GPU deal and Trump-era policies favoring U.S. data center growth.

Data Center Sector Volatile Amid AI Infrastructure Surge
The data center sector remains fragmented, with Equinix (EQIX) down 1.39% despite CleanSpark’s rally. While CleanSpark’s Texas expansion targets AI-specific workloads, sector peers like Microsoft and Google are investing in gigawatt-scale facilities and grid infrastructure. Microsoft’s Community-First AI Initiative, which includes covering electricity and water costs for communities, highlights the sector’s shift toward sustainable, large-scale deployments. CleanSpark’s focus on Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure differentiates it from traditional data center operators, but its ability to secure regulatory approvals and scale operations will determine its long-term standing against sector leaders.

Options and Technicals: Navigating CLSK’s Volatility and AI-Driven Momentum
• MACD: -0.3085 (bearish), Signal Line: -0.5132 (bearish), Histogram: 0.2047 (bullish divergence)
• RSI: 53.81 (neutral), Bollinger Bands: $10.31–$12.84 (price near upper band)
• 200D MA: $11.72 (below current price), 100D MA: $13.67 (near price)
• Support/Resistance: $11.89–$11.99 (30D support), $9.69–$10.02 (200D support)

CleanSpark’s technicals suggest a short-term bullish trend amid a long-term ranging pattern. The stock is trading near its 100D MA and above the 200D MA, with RSI hovering in neutral territory. The MACD histogram’s positive divergence hints at potential reversal. For options, two contracts stand out:

• CLSK20260123C12.5
- Type: Call, Strike: $12.50, Expiration: 2026-01-23
- IV: 110.21% (high volatility), Leverage: 9.28% (moderate), Delta: 0.6780 (moderate sensitivity), Theta: -0.0755 (rapid time decay), Gamma: 0.1471 (high sensitivity to price movement), Turnover: $37,325 (liquid)
- Payoff: A 5% upside to $14.33 would yield $1.83 per contract. This call offers a balance of leverage and liquidity, ideal for capitalizing on a breakout above $13.65.

• CLSK20260123C13
- Type: Call, Strike: $13.00, Expiration: 2026-01-23
- IV: 97.77% (moderate volatility), Leverage: 12.72% (high), Delta: 0.6013 (moderate sensitivity), Theta: -0.0709 (rapid time decay), Gamma: 0.1785 (very high sensitivity), Turnover: $120,417 (highly liquid)
- Payoff: A 5% upside to $14.33 would yield $1.33 per contract. This contract’s high gamma and liquidity make it ideal for aggressive bulls expecting a sharp move above $13.65.

Action: Aggressive bulls may consider CLSK20260123C13 into a breakout above $13.65, while conservative traders can target CLSK20260123C12.5 for a more balanced play. Both contracts benefit from CLSK’s proximity to key resistance levels and sector-wide AI infrastructure momentum.

Backtest CleanSpark Stock Performance
The backtest of CLSK's performance following a 9% intraday increase from 2022 to now shows a strategy return of 47.78%, with a benchmark return of 42.97% and an excess return of 4.81%. The strategy's CAGR is 10.46%, indicating a solid long-term growth. However, the high volatility of 115.54% and a maximum drawdown of 86.58% suggest a risky profile with significant fluctuations.

CLSK’s AI Bet: A High-Volatility Play on U.S. Infrastructure
CleanSpark’s 8.7% surge underscores its strategic pivot to AI infrastructure, but sustainability hinges on execution risks and sector dynamics. The stock’s technicals suggest a short-term bullish bias, with key resistance at $14.01 and support at $12.77. Sector leaders like Equinix (-1.39%) highlight mixed performance, but CleanSpark’s Bitcoin mining foundation and AI expansion offer unique leverage. Investors should monitor the 52-week high of $23.61 and regulatory approvals for the Texas project. For now, CLSK20260123C13 and CLSK20260123C12.5 offer high-leverage plays on a breakout, while sector watchers may contrast CleanSpark’s momentum with Equinix’s decline. Watch for $14.01 clearance or a pullback to $12.77 to define the next phase.