Global Crypto Mining News in January: The largest mining company MARA sells Bitcoin, Mining rigs…

Global Crypto Mining News in January: The largest mining company MARA sells Bitcoin, Mining rigs such as Antminer S19 XP+ Hyd reach shutdown price levels, etc

Author | Wu Blockchain

Since January, Bitcoin mining company MARA has transferred Bitcoin to institutional counterparties including FalconX and Wintermute, involving 519.46 BTC (approximately $48.30 million) and 288 BTC (approximately $26.30 million). On February 5, MARA transferred a total of 1,318 BTC-worth about $86.89 million-to Two Prime, BitGo, and Galaxy Digital. As of now, MARA still holds more than 52,000 BTC, valued at approximately $3.44 billion, making it the second-largest Bitcoin-holding mining company globally.

Under current Bitcoin mining difficulty and an assumed electricity cost of $0.08/kWh, mining rigs including Antminer S19 XP+ Hyd, WhatsMiner M60S, and Avalon A1466I are approaching their shutdown Bitcoin price levels. The Antminer S21 series (S21, S21+, and S21 Hyd) has shutdown price levels in the range of approximately $69,000 to $74,000. In addition, higher-hashrate models such as Antminer U3S23H and S23 Hyd have shutdown price levels above $44,000. (Antpool).Read more

Bitmain has recently slashed prices for its Bitcoin mining machines, with multiple S19 and S21 series models entering so-called “fire-sale” pricing ranges. According to internal pricing disclosed by TheMinerMag, the S19e XP Hydro and 3U S19 XP Hydro have fallen to as low as $3 per TH/s, while the S19 XP+ Hydro is priced at around $4 per TH/s. The S21 immersion model is priced at approximately $7 per TH/s, and the S21+ Hydro at around $8 per TH/s.

Previously, Bitmain launched a bundled S19 XP+ Hydro offering, implying a price of roughly $4 per TH/s, and in November adopted an auction-based sales model for the S19k Pro with a starting price of $5.5 per TH/s. Meanwhile, Bitmain has strengthened its “miner + hosting” bundled sales, offering hosting electricity prices of about $0.055–$0.07 per kWh, plus a $0.003 per kWh management fee, covering locations including the United States, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Paraguay, and Ethiopia.

Since 2022, the United Arab Emirates has been engaged in Bitcoin mining through government-affiliated entities. In response, CZ commented that the UAE’s power generation capacity is primarily built to handle a small number of extreme peak-demand periods, leaving surplus energy available for most of the year, part of which is used for Bitcoin mining. He noted that Bitcoin’s low storage costs and long-term value-storage characteristics make it well suited as a means of converting energy value (Crypto Patel).

Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X and an advisor to the Solana ecosystem, shared a distribution chart showing the most searched cashtags on the X platform recently. The data shows that between December 1, 2025, and January 14, 2026, the top ten cashtags were Bitcoin mining firm IREN, Tesla, satellite communications company AST SpaceMobile, BTC, Ondas Holdings, XRP, GameStop (GME), AI infrastructure company Nebius, Opendoor, and ETH. Previously, Nikita Bier had announced that X would introduce a “Smart Cashtags” feature.

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia stated that the government is seeking investment partners to develop Bitcoin mining projects, and that related initiatives have already been launched. In Digital Ethiopia 2030, the Prime Minister explicitly places blockchain alongside artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing as “practical tools for strengthening industries across the country” (Bitcoin Magazine).

According to a recent report released by BlocksBridge Consulting, the share of Bitcoin blocks mined by North American mining pools-that is, their proportion of total blocks found-has continued to decline in 2025. As of December, Foundry USA, MARA Pool, and Luxor Technologies together mined about 35% of all Bitcoin blocks, down from over 40% in January last year. The analysis notes that as U.S. mining companies redirect power and capital toward AI data center infrastructure, Bitcoin mining profitability has come under pressure, creating room for hashrate to flow back to regions such as China (Decrypt).

Bitcoin mining company GoMining has partnered with luxury watch brand Jacob & Co. to launch a limited-edition Epic X GoMining Bitcoin-themed watch set, priced at $40,000 and limited to 100 units worldwide. The set includes a hand-wound luxury watch by Jacob & Co. along with a “digital miner” representing 1,000 TH of hashpower, corresponding to mining rewards generated by GoMining’s physical mining facilities. The product will be sold through Jacob & Co. boutiques in New York and Miami, as well as via official platforms, aiming to combine high-end luxury goods with Bitcoin mining yields (Decrypt).

10.

Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer released its December 2025 operating results, reporting 636 BTC of self-mined production for the month, up 339% year over year and 21% month over month. Its self-mining hashrate increased to 55.2 EH/s, and as of December 31, 2025, the company held 2,017 BTC. On the AI front, Bitdeer has deployed and tested eight GB200 units in Malaysia, with GPU cloud ARR of approximately $10 million; its AI cloud services are expected to go live on the official website in January 2026.

11.

With 636 BTC mined in December, Bitdeer’s implied hashrate is estimated at about 51.2 EH/s, bringing it close to the largest publicly listed mining company MARA (approximately 52 EH/s). By month-end, Bitdeer’s owned hashrate reached 55.2 EH/s, while managed hashrate totaled 71 EH/s, surpassing CleanSpark and IREN and placing Bitdeer second among publicly listed miners. As SEALMINER machines continue to come online and utilization rates improve, Bitdeer may further narrow the gap with MARA in the coming months (TheMinerMag).

12.

A winter storm named “Fernand” swept across the United States, causing the hashrate of the Foundry USA Bitcoin mining pool to drop by approximately 60% since Friday. Due to the storm, about 200 EH/s of hashrate was taken offline, slowing Bitcoin block production to around 12 minutes per block. Foundry USA currently still controls roughly 198 EH/s, accounting for about 23% of global mining pool hashrate. Other U.S. mining pools were also affected, with miners adjusting energy usage to reduce strain on the power grid. The storm has resulted in over one million power outages nationwide (Cointelegraph).

13.

Bit Digital announced that it has fully exited Bitcoin mining, shifting its focus to Ethereum and AI infrastructure and treasury operations. In a January 29 shareholder letter, CEO Sam Tabar stated that the capital efficiency of mining has declined and that the company will concentrate on operable, monetizable, and composite infrastructure. Bit Digital entered mining in 2020 and began diversifying into AI-focused HPC in 2023. Its subsidiary WhiteFiber raised approximately $160 million in an IPO in August, with Bit Digital holding 27 million shares. As of July, the company held 153,500 ETH (valued at $428.8 million, mostly staked), and in October it purchased an additional 31,057 ETH using proceeds from $135 million in convertible notes (The Block).

14.

Wall Street investment bank KBW downgraded Bitfarms, Bitdeer, and HIVE Digital from “Outperform” to “Market Perform.” Analyst Stephen Glagola noted that these miners’ transitions toward artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) businesses face execution risks and longer monetization timelines. KBW sharply cut Bitdeer’s price target from $26.50 to $14, lowered HIVE Digital’s target from $11 to $3.50, while Bitfarms’ price target was slightly raised to $3 (CoinDesk).

15.

Bitcoin’s network hashrate has fallen by approximately 15% from its peak in October 2025, indicating continued miner capitulation as profitability comes under pressure. The hashrate has declined from around 1.1 ZH/s to approximately 977 EH/s, and Bitcoin mining difficulty is expected to be reduced by about 4% on January 22, marking the seventh downward adjustment out of the past eight. Glassnode’s Hash Ribbon indicator shows that miner selling pressure remains, while VanEck notes that historically, miner capitulation has often served as a contrarian signal for price rebounds. In addition, some mining companies are pivoting toward AI and high-performance computing (HPC) businesses, financing these investments by selling Bitcoin, which has further intensified short-term selling pressure (CoinDesk).

16.

Nasdaq recently issued a warning to Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer Canaan Inc. (CAN), requiring the company to maintain a share price of at least $1 for ten consecutive trading days by July this year or face the risk of delisting. Canaan’s shares are currently trading at around $0.79. Although the company announced a large order for 50,000 Avalon A15 Pro miners in October last year, which briefly lifted the stock price, the rally failed to last. Its largest institutional investor, Streeterville Capital, fully exited its position-worth approximately $439 million-in December (Decrypt).

17.

Bitcoin mining company Bitfarms announced the appointment of Edie Hofmeister as Chair of the Board, replacing Brian Howlett, who has served as chair since 2024 and will remain on the board as an independent director. Bitfarms stated that the leadership change is part of its U.S. redomiciliation strategy, aimed at improving access to U.S. capital markets, expanding its U.S. investor base, and enhancing eligibility for inclusion in certain stock indices.

18.

In December 2025, the Russian government announced plans to advance a cryptocurrency regulatory framework in the coming year, proposing to introduce criminal liability for illegal mining while applying administrative penalties for lesser violations. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the government will comprehensively regulate the circulation of digital currencies and strengthen enforcement against electricity theft and unregistered mining operations. Although mining has been legalized in Russia, fewer than one-third of mining companies are registered, and some regions have imposed mining bans due to power shortages. Regulators are working jointly with law enforcement, power grid operators, and the FSB, using smart meters, network monitoring, and drone-based thermal imaging to locate mining sites (Cryptopolitan).Read more

19.

In January 2026, lawmakers in the Russian State Duma submitted a bill proposing fines for illegal cryptocurrency mining. Under the draft legislation, penalties would range from 100,000 to 150,000 rubles for individuals, 300,000 to 800,000 rubles for public officials, and 1 million to 2 million rubles for legal entities. Fines would be increased for repeat offenses. Previously, Russia’s Ministry of Justice had proposed penalties of up to 1.5 million rubles or two years of compulsory labor for illegal mining; in cases involving large illicit profits or organized criminal groups, offenders could face up to five years in prison (Bitsmedia).

20.

CleanSpark released its unaudited mining results as of December 31, 2025. The company reported that its Bitcoin production in 2025 increased by more than 10% year over year, with 7,746 BTC mined for the full year and 622 BTC produced in December alone. As of December 31, CleanSpark held a total of 13,099 BTC.

21.

According to CloverPool data, Bitcoin completed a difficulty adjustment at block height 933,408, with mining difficulty reduced by 3.28% to 141.67T, marking the largest downward adjustment in more than six months.

22.

On January 14, the Financial Markets Committee of the Russian State Duma recommended that a bill be approved on its first reading, proposing to transfer certain cryptocurrency mining regulatory functions currently handled by the Federal Tax Service (FNS) to the Ministry of Finance. These powers would include oversight of mining pools and their operators, miners, and mining infrastructure operators, as well as requirements for miners to declare crypto assets obtained from mining, in accordance with Federal Law №259-FZ (On Digital Financial Assets). At present, Russia only permits legal entities and sole proprietors registered with the tax authority to engage in mining, while individuals are allowed to mine within a monthly electricity consumption limit of 6,000 kWh (RBC).

23.

Over the past six months, corporate digital asset treasuries (DATs) have recorded a net increase of 260,000 BTC, far exceeding the roughly 82,000 BTC of new supply mined over the same period. The report notes that corporate allocations to Bitcoin continue to expand. Total corporate Bitcoin holdings rose from approximately 854,000 BTC to 1.11 million BTC, an increase of about 30%. Among them, Strategy holds around 687,410 BTC (about 60% of the total), valued at approximately $65.5 billion, having recently resumed purchases and added 13,627 BTC between January 5 and January 11. The second-largest holder is MARA Holdings, with 53,250 BTC (valued at about $5 billion) (Cointelegraph).

24.

Bitcoin mining company Riot Platforms released its unaudited production and operations update for December 2025, reporting 460 BTC mined during the month, up from 428 BTC in November 2025. However, due to the sale of 1,818 BTC-generating net proceeds of approximately $161.6 million-the company’s total Bitcoin holdings have declined to 18,005 BTC.

25.

In December 2025, Malaysian authorities formed a joint air-and-ground task force, using advanced drones and ground police units to locate and shut down nearly 14,000 illegal Bitcoin mining rigs. According to reports, these illegal miners have stolen electricity worth $1.1 billion from the national power grid since 2020. The national utility Tenaga Nasional (TNB) stated that such theft poses serious challenges to the system and could even damage infrastructure. Data shows that $1.1 billion worth of stolen electricity would be sufficient to power approximately 373,000 households for one year (CoinDesk). Read more

26.

In January 2026, Malaysian police carried out three raids in Teluk Intan, Perak, seizing 41 pieces of equipment suspected of being used for illegal cryptocurrency mining. Bakri Zainal Abidin, Chief of the Hilir Perak District Police, stated that the first operation took place on Friday night, during which 24 units were confiscated; two additional raids conducted in the early hours of Saturday (January 10) led to the seizure of 9 and 8 units, respectively. Police said the cases are being investigated for alleged violations of Section 427 of the Penal Code (mischief causing damage to property) and Section 37 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990 (illegal use of electricity). No arrests have been made so far, and investigations are ongoing to identify the individuals or groups involved (The Star).

27.

Bitfinex analysts noted that if the United States were to secure substantial extraction rights to Venezuelan oil, the resulting increase in energy supply could lower electricity costs, thereby improving Bitcoin miner profitability and potentially triggering a new round of mining expansion, particularly benefiting regions able to lock in long-term power contracts. However, Bitfinex cautioned that a meaningful increase in Venezuelan oil production would take years rather than months, with progress dependent on political transition and sanctions arrangements. Researchers at crypto asset manager 21Shares also stated that restoring Venezuela as a “major oil-producing power” could require more than a decade and over $100 billion in infrastructure investment (Cointelegraph).

28.

Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer Canaan Inc. has launched a 3-megawatt pilot project in Manitoba, Canada, aiming to repurpose waste heat from Bitcoin mining for greenhouse agriculture. The project uses liquid-cooled mining machines to recover heat and provide supplementary heating for tomato greenhouses. Conducted in partnership with Bitforest Investment, the initiative deploys 360 Avalon liquid-cooled servers and channels the recovered heat into greenhouse boiler systems via a closed-loop heat-exchange system. Canaan estimates that approximately 90% of the electricity consumed can be converted into usable thermal energy, reducing energy consumption and costs while also helping to lower carbon emissions (The Block).

29.

David Duong, Head of Global Investment Research at Coinbase, warned that as quantum computing advances accelerate, Bitcoin’s long-term security is facing structural risks. He noted that around one-third of Bitcoin could be vulnerable to future quantum attacks because the public keys of the associated wallets have already been exposed. Duong emphasized that the quantum threat has shifted from a theoretical concern to a real risk, with the core vulnerability lying in signature security rather than mining efficiency. In May, BlackRock also explicitly listed quantum computing as a risk factor in the prospectus for its iShares Bitcoin Trust (DL News).

30.

Bitcoin mining company Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) disclosed its Bitcoin mining operating data for December 2025. The company produced 569 BTC during the month (up from 546.7 BTC in November), with an average daily output of 18.35 BTC. As of month-end, Cango held 7,528.3 BTC, an increase of approximately 569 BTC month over month. The company has 50 EH/s of deployed hashrate, with an average operating hashrate of 43.36 EH/s for the month. Cango stated that it plans to hold its Bitcoin long term and does not intend to sell. In addition, a major shareholder plans to make an additional $10.5 million investment (expected to be completed in January 2026) to improve mining efficiency and advance the parallel development of energy and AI computing platforms.

31.

Bitfarms announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its 70 MW Bitcoin mining facility in Paso Pe, Paraguay to Sympatheia Power Fund, managed by Hawksburn Capital of Singapore, for up to $30 million. The transaction is expected to be completed within 60 days. Upon completion, Bitfarms will fully exit the Latin American market, shift its energy asset portfolio to 100% North America, and plans to reinvest the proceeds into HPC/AI energy and hashrate infrastructure in North America.

32.

A new law signed by Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow in late November 2025 came into effect on January 1, formally legalizing cryptocurrency mining and the operation of crypto exchanges. Under the law, cryptocurrency mining (including mining pools) is legal in the country, and non-Turkmen residents may also participate after completing registration. Crypto exchanges established in Turkmenistan are required to obtain licenses and comply with KYC/AML requirements as well as cold-storage standards. The law also explicitly states that crypto assets are not considered legal tender, a form of currency, or securities in Turkmenistan (Cointelegraph).

33.

JPMorgan said that Bitcoin network hashrate declined for a second consecutive month in December 2025, falling by about 3% month over month to 1,045 EH/s. While miner competition has eased somewhat, mining profitability continues to deteriorate. Data shows that daily block reward revenue per EH/s fell 7% month over month and 32% year over year, hitting a record low, mainly due to Bitcoin price declines, the impact of the halving, and rising energy costs (CoinDesk).