Nuclear energy is gaining renewed attention in the United States as demand for reliable large-scale electricity grows, driven by artificial intelligence and the expansion of data centers.
According to the latest Miner Weekly newsletter from TheEnergyMag, major utilities and producers believe the US may be entering a “nuclear renaissance.” Recent annual filings suggest that the revival is linked to long-term contracts with AI hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta Platforms.
Rather than relying exclusively on renewable energy credits to offset emissions, some hyperscalers are investing in entire nuclear facilities to ensure continuous carbon-free electricity, the publication states.
While tech giants are increasingly turning to nuclear energy, Bitcoin miners were some of the first to explore colocating high-performance computing operations near substantial baseload energy sources.
The newsletter highlights that miners were aware early on that nuclear power—once considered a declining sector—could evolve into essential infrastructure for future high-performance computing.
An early instance is TeraWulf, which partnered with Talen Energy in 2021 to develop the Nautilus Cryptomine facility adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant. As reported, this mining operation is set up to directly utilize electricity from the nuclear facility.
Related: Bitcoin mining’s 2026 reckoning: AI pivots, margin pressure and a fight to survive
The Growing Role of Nuclear Power in Bitcoin Mining
The relationship between Bitcoin mining and nuclear energy is not a new phenomenon. Researchers at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance—a research institute at the University of Cambridge studying digital asset markets—reported that nuclear power had been progressively incorporated into Bitcoin mining for years.
As per the center’s findings, nuclear energy constituted approximately 4% of Bitcoin mining in 2021, increasing to nearly 9% in 2022, and edging closer to 10% currently. Sustainable energy sources, including nuclear, hydropower, and wind, now comprise around 52.4% of electricity consumption in Bitcoin mining.
Bitcoin Mining Electricity Consumption
Source: Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance
Another noteworthy development is the advent of small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors are built to be smaller and deployed more rapidly than traditional solutions, enabling easier co-location with energy-hungry infrastructure like data centers.
As reported by Cointelegraph, companies like Google have already entered agreements to develop SMRs to power future computing facilities, a model that may extend to large-scale Bitcoin mining in the future.
Related: France’s Rassemblement National party backs Bitcoin mining with nuclear energy
