Microsoft Strikes $9.7B Deal With IREN as AI Demand Surges
Bitcoin mining firms are pivoting their high-performance hardware to meet the soaring demand for advanced computing, transcending traditional blockchain operations. IREN's $9.7 billion five-year agreement with Microsoft underscores this shift, leveraging its Texas data centers to host Nvidia GB300-powered AI systems. The deal allows Microsoft to scale its AI capabilities without the overhead of new infrastructure or power arrangements.
Separately, IREN has inked a $5.8 billion pact with Dell Technologies to bolster its GPU arsenal, signaling a strategic bet on the convergence of crypto infrastructure and AI compute demands. These moves reflect a broader industry trend where mining operators repurpose assets to capture value in the AI boom.