MARA Invests in Texas Wind Farm for Sustainable Bitcoin Mining

• MARA acquires wind farm in Texas for sustainable Bitcoin mining.
• Initiative reuses old hardware with renewable energy, reducing costs.
• Acquisition aligns with MARA's sustainability and operational efficiency objectives.

MARA Holdings, formerly known as Marathon Digital, has announced plans to acquire a wind farm in Hansford County, Texas, to power its business center. data sustainable for Bitcoin mining.

At the time of publication, the price of Bitcoin was quoted at US$95.301,10 with a drop of 0.4% in the last 24 hours.

The wind farm has an interconnection capacity of 240 megawatts (MW) and 114 MW of operational wind generation, allowing MARA to establish a vertically integrated operation with marginal energy costs close to zero, according to a company statement.

The move represents a strategic shift for MARA, which is looking to integrate renewable energy into its mining operations, which are known to require significant computing power. Bitcoin mining involves solving complex mathematical problems to validate transactions on the network, which consumes significant amounts of energy. By exclusively using the energy generated by the wind farm, the company aims to reduce its reliance on traditional energy sources and ease the burden on the Texas power grid.

MARA CEO Fred Thiel highlighted the broader benefits of the acquisition, including reducing Bitcoin production costs and reusing older mining hardware. “This acquisition serves as a model for collaboration between the energy and data center sectors to create long-term value while advancing sustainability initiatives,” Thiel said.

A key element of the project is MARA’s Advanced ASIC Retirement Initiative. This program aims to repurpose older ASIC mining machines—specialized hardware used in Bitcoin mining—by extending their lifespan and preventing them from being discarded or sold. These machines will operate on renewable wind power, creating a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly mining model.

The acquisition aligns with MARA’s broader sustainability goals as the company continues to develop a global network of data centers powered by renewable energy. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Salman Khan, MARA’s Chief Financial Officer, commented: “The program will not only extend the life of miners beyond their previous economic lives with zero marginal energy cost, but will also increase MARA’s return on capital employed, while reducing our operating costs and mitigating shareholder dilution.”

MARA’s wind farm initiative aims to transform unused sustainable resources into commercial value while reducing Bitcoin production costs through vertical integration. Fred Thiel added: “By repurposing machines and powering them with 100% renewable energy at zero marginal cost, we are harnessing renewable resources that would otherwise go to waste, reducing our Bitcoin production costs through vertical integration, and demonstrating MARA’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”

The wind farm is the latest addition to MARA’s growing network of renewable energy-powered data centers and is a key part of the company’s efforts to become more environmentally friendly. MARA plans to reduce the demand for wind power from the grid, which will reduce grid strain, encourage the growth of green energy and increase energy demand in the area. However, the deal can only be completed if certain conditions are met, including obtaining government approvals.

The Advanced ASIC Retirement Initiative is an innovative approach to solving a critical industry problem. By utilizing old mining equipment with free renewable energy, MARA can transform depreciating assets into profitable operations. This strategy addresses two issues: it extends the lifecycle of ASICs beyond their normal retirement age and reduces operating costs by utilizing renewable energy.