Bitcoin Miners' Early Nuclear Power Deals Outpace AI and Big Tech by 2026

On March 15, 2026, Bitcoin mining firms were reported to have locked in nuclear energy partnerships years before major AI and Big Tech companies began competing for clean baseload power. Nuclear now supplies 9.8% of Bitcoin mining's electricity within a 52.4% sustainable mix, while AI-driven data center demand is projected to require tens of gigawatts of additional nuclear capacity by 2030. Despite these ambitions, high capital costs and long regulatory lead times mean natural gas is still the more accessible short-term option.