Russia Claims U.S. Eyeing Nuclear Power for Bitcoin Mining Operations

Nuclear reactors could soon power the world's most energy-intensive industry—if a provocative claim from Russian officials holds any weight.

The Energy Gambit

Forget solar farms and wind turbines. The latest frontier in the quest for cheap, reliable Bitcoin mining power might be splitting atoms. Russian sources suggest American interests are actively exploring nuclear energy to fuel massive mining operations, a move that would fundamentally reshape the industry's energy calculus.

Geopolitics Meets Hashrate

The allegation injects high-stakes geopolitics into the infrastructure debate. Positioning nuclear power as a strategic asset for crypto turns energy policy into a new arena for technological competition. It's a play for ultimate energy sovereignty—controlling the source to control the network's backbone.

The Bottom Line

If true, this signals a brutal pragmatism finally hitting crypto infrastructure. When the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports get too loud, just pivot to the one energy source that makes carbon emissions look like a rounding error. The ultimate hedge for a miner isn't just holding Bitcoin—it's owning the reactor that prints it.

The two world’s biggest economies, Russia and the United States, are discussing the future of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been under Russian control since early in the Ukraine conflict. 

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the U.S has shown interest in using electricity from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant for Bitcoin mining

U.S. Interest Links Nuclear Energy and Bitcoin Mining

According to a report by Kommersant, President Vladimir Putin revealed that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is part of ongoing talks between Russia and the United States. One of the ideas raised during these discussions is using the plant’s massive electricity output for bitcoin mining operations.

Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which produces 136.8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy per day than local demand requires. 

With such a large and steady energy supply, Bitcoin mining, which requires constant, high-volume electricity, could provide a practical way to use this excess power more efficiently.

According to Kommersant, President Vladimir Putin said Russia is discussing the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with the United States. The report said the U.S. has expressed interest in using the plant’s electricity for Bitcoin mining. Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s…

Why Nuclear Power Appeals to Bitcoin Mining

Bitcoin mining requires stable, low-cost, and continuous electricity. Nuclear power fits this need well, as it provides constant energy without interruptions. In recent years, miners have increasingly turned to alternative energy sources like hydro, wind, and nuclear power to reduce costs and improve sustainability.

Using nuclear energy for Bitcoin mining could also help stabilize power grids by consuming excess electricity that WOULD otherwise go unused. This makes the idea attractive not just for miners, but also for energy planners.

If nuclear-powered Bitcoin mining becomes a reality, it could change how and where Bitcoin is mined globally.

Joint Management Talks Signal a Bigger Shift

Putin’s comments suggest that Russia is open to joint management of the Zaporizhzhia plant with the U.S., rather than Ukraine. While the talks are still at an early stage, they point to a broader shift where energy infrastructure, geopolitics, and digital assets are becoming closely linked.

If such cooperation moves forward, it would mark one of the first cases where a major nuclear facility is openly discussed in the context of Bitcoin mining.

While no official agreement has been announced, the fact that such talks are happening shows how seriously governments are now viewing Bitcoin mining as an industrial activity tied to energy policy.

How Many BTC Are Left For Mining

While Bitcoin has a fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins, most of them have already been mined. As of now, around 19.7 million Bitcoins are already in circulation, which means only about 1.3 million BTC are left to be mined. This is less than 7% of the total supply.

After the 2024 halving, miners now earn 3.125 BTC per block, producing roughly 450 new BTC per day. At this pace, the last Bitcoin will be mined around the year 2140, making Bitcoin increasingly scarce over time.