Tether Bets Big on South America’s Excess Energy: Can Low-Carbon Bitcoin Mining Outrun Market Volatility?

Tether’s latest play? Turning South America’s surplus power into a Bitcoin mining goldmine—with a green twist. But as the crypto giant doubles down on renewable energy, skeptics wonder if the region’s volatile grids (and even more volatile markets) will spoil the party.

Here’s the pitch: harness cheap, stranded hydropower to mint Bitcoin sustainably. On paper, it’s a win-win—cheaper energy for miners, fewer carbon guilt trips for the industry. But South America’s patchy infrastructure and political headwinds could turn this eco-friendly dream into a high-stakes gamble.

Meanwhile, Wall Street sniffs at the irony: a stablecoin giant chasing the ultimate volatile asset—with energy markets as the wildcard. Will this be crypto’s next moonshot or just another overleveraged bet? Only the hash rate knows.

Tether to Deploy Mining OS in South America

Tether will provide infrastructure and operational oversight through its in-house Mining OS, which the company plans to release as open source in the coming months.

“We’re excited to explore innovative ways to maximize the value of our renewable energy assets,” said Adecoagro co-founder and CEO Mariano Bosch.

“This project opens the door to stabilizing a portion of the energy we currently sell on the spot market, locking in pricing, while also gaining exposure to the upside potential of Bitcoin,” said Bosch.

The pilot project has been approved by Adecoagro’s Independent Committee under its related-party transaction policy. The companies plan to evaluate how Bitcoin mining could serve both as an alternative electricity off-take and a strategic treasury component.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the initiative stresses the firm’s goal to back decentralized networks with physical infrastructure.

“We believe this model can drive financial inclusion, promote energy efficiency, and serve as a blueprint for responsible innovation at the intersection of technology and sustainability,” he said.

Renewable-Powered Bitcoin Mining Gains Ground

Adecoagro Board Chair Juan Sartori, who also leads Tether’s business initiatives, described the plan as a convergence of agriculture, energy, and technology.

“[The partnership] allows us to explore a new intersection between agriculture, energy, and technology,” he said.

The companies said the project will assess the viability of adding Bitcoin to Adecoagro’s balance sheet, similar to how it treats farmland assets. The collaboration could also inform longer-term diversification of Adecoagro’s energy strategy.

Bitcoin mining tied to renewable energy is drawing increased attention from energy producers looking to balance load and monetize excess supply.

South America’s emerging role in sustainable mining is also shaping how institutions assess digital asset exposure. While past mining growth concentrated in North America and Central Asia, companies in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina are starting to frame crypto infrastructure as part of their broader energy and industrial strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Brazil has a high share of renewable electricity—mainly hydro and biomass—which makes it an appealing base for energy-intensive activities that seek low-carbon operations, including Bitcoin mining.

If scaled, projects like this may shift the narrative around Bitcoin’s carbon footprint by anchoring mining operations in clean energy regions, particularly in the Global South.

Yes. Bitcoin price volatility and regulatory uncertainty could impact financial planning, especially if mining becomes a sizable part of a company’s energy demand or treasury model.