Mining Giant Bitmain Reportedly Raising $50 Million Funding Round

China-based mining firm Bitmain is to receive a $50 million investment from a number of venture capital firms, according to Bloomberg.

One of the world's largest bitcoin miners and producers of mining hardware, Bitmain is reported to be raising the funding from participants including Sequoia Capital, ING Capital and several other undisclosed investors as part of a plan to raise its profile among investors.

Bloomberg also said the firm intends to expand into production of chips for artificial intelligence and set up mining farms in the U.S.

The unnamed source, according to the report, claimed the investing companies also intend to offer Bitmain management advice as part of the deal.

Bitmain's mining pool – by which miners combine their efforts to have a better chance of solving blocks and receiving bitcoin rewards – is currently the second most powerful globally. At press time, Antpool, as it's called, controlled 15.3 percent of the network's total hashing power.

Bitcoin miners image via Shutterstock