Bitcoin Mining

Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are created and transactions are verified and added to the blockchain network. It involves powerful computers solving complex mathematical problems to secure the Bitcoin network and maintain its decentralized nature. Individuals, companies, and even specialized mining pools participate in this process, known as miners. These miners play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and security of the Bitcoin network. As the number of bitcoins in circulation is limited, mining also serves as a means of distributing new bitcoins. Miners are rewarded with newly minted bitcoins for their computational efforts and the energy they contribute to the network. Bitcoin mining has evolved over time, with the advent of more efficient hardware and the rise of mining farms. These farms, often operated by companies, leverage economies of scale to maximize their mining capabilities. Additionally, mining protocols and algorithms have been developed to adapt to the increasing computational power and maintain the network's stability. Crypto exchanges facilitate the trading of bitcoins, allowing miners to convert their earned bitcoins into traditional currencies or other cryptocurrencies. This dynamic ecosystem of people, companies, protocols, and blockchain networks collectively contribute to the functioning and growth of Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market.

Finance

Bitfarms shares surge after it ditches its 'bitcoin company' identity and doubles down on AI with U.S. move

The company said it will focus on building data centers for high-performance computing and artificial-intelligence workloads.

By Krisztian SandorFeb 6, 2026

Bitfarms facility in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. (CoinDesk archives)

Finance

Sovcombank says it's the first Russian bank to offer bitcoin-backed loans to public

Larger rival Sberbank beat Sovcombank to the punch, but it's still running as a pilot program.

By Olivier AcunaFeb 5, 2026

Sovcombank office in a historic building in Vyborg. (Vesan99-Wikimedia Commons/Modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

The Protocol: Vitalik Buterin’s stark warning on layer-2 roadmap

Also: Open-source alternative for bitcoin miners, EF’s quantum-computing team and a new lending protocol for XRP

By Margaux NijkerkFeb 4, 2026

Markets

January rally bolsters near-term outlook for bitcoin mining stocks, JPMorgan says

Shares of mining companies rose last month despite softer bitcoin prices as storms cut the network hashrate and AI optimism grew, the bank said.

By Will Canny, AI BoostFeb 4, 2026

Finance

TeraWulf jumps 11% after buying power-rich Kentucky and Maryland sites

The acquisitions bring TeraWulf’s capacity to 2.8 gigawatts as it targets major infrastructure expansion to supply power-hungry computing demand.

By Krisztian Sandor, AI BoostFeb 3, 2026

An engineer sits at a bank of crypto mining rigs.

Tech

Bitcoin miners get an open-source alternative as Tether launches MiningOS

Stablecoin issuer Tether said its new MiningOS is a modular, self-hosted software stack built to run mining operations from small home rigs to multi-site industrial setups.

By Shaurya MalwaFeb 3, 2026

Bitcoin mining machines (Shutterstock, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Meta and Microsoft continue going big on AI spending. Here's how bitcoin miners could benefit

In its fourth quarter earnings report, Meta said capital spending plans for 2026 should be in the range of $115-$135 billion, well ahead of consensus forecasts.

By Helene Braun, AI BoostJan 28, 2026