Bitcoin Miners Debt Surges to $12.7 Billion as AI Demand Accelerates

The total debt held by Bitcoin mining companies has skyrocketed from $2.1 billion to $12.7 billion over the past year as miners rush to expand capacity for both artificial intelligence (AI) and Bitcoin production, according to a new report from VanEck.

In its October Bitcoin ChainCheck report, VanEck analysts Nathan Frankovitz and Matthew Sigel, head of digital asset research, said miners face mounting financial pressure to keep pace with the industry’s technological arms race. 

Without continuous upgrades to the latest mining machines, a miner’s share of the global hashrate, the total computing power securing the Bitcoin network, declines, leading to reduced rewards.

“We refer to this dynamic as the melting ice cube problem,” the report said. “Historically, miners relied on equity markets, not debt, to fund these steep Capex costs. But with falling equity valuations and rising demand for AI infrastructure, debt has become a more attractive source of financing.”

Miners Turn to Debt and AI for Growth

Data from shows that combined debt and convertible-note offerings by 15 publicly listed miners surged from $200 million at the start of 2025 to $1.5 billion in Q2, following a record $4.6 billion raised in the final quarter of 2024.

Many miners have started diversifying their energy capacity to include AI and high-performance computing (HPC) hosting services, especially after the April 2024 Bitcoin halving reduced block rewards to 3.125 BTC, significantly squeezing profit margins.

“In doing so, miners have secured more predictable cash flows backed by multi-year contracts,” Frankovitz and Sigel wrote. “The relative stability of these revenues has enabled them to tap into debt markets more effectively, reducing their overall cost of capital.”

Recent financing rounds highlight the trend. Bitfarms raised $588 million to fund AI and HPC infrastructure in North America. TeraWulf announced a $3.2 billion senior secured notes issuance to expand its Lake Mariner data center in New York.

IREN also closed a $1 billion convertible note deal in October for general corporate and working capital purposes.

AI Pivot Seen as Complementary, Not Competitive

Despite concerns about miners shifting focus to AI, VanEck analysts said the move poses no threat to Bitcoin’s network security.

“AI’s priority for electricity is ultimately a net benefit to Bitcoin,” the report stated. “Bitcoin mining remains an efficient way to monetize excess power in remote or developing energy markets, helping subsidize the buildout of AI-ready data centers.”

Moreover, miners are exploring ways to monetize surplus electricity during periods of low AI demand, potentially replacing costly backup systems such as diesel generators.

“While still conceptual, this represents a logical next step in the synergy between Bitcoin mining and AI, enhancing both financial and energy efficiency,” Frankovitz and Sigel concluded.