US Bitcoin miners ready to cut power as ice storm nears

Bitcoin miners in the southern United States are preparing to reduce power use or temporarily shut down equipment this weekend as an ice and snowstorm approaches, aiming to ease pressure on regional electricity systems and limit outages.

Forecasts as of Thursday point to a large winter system sweeping from far West Texas toward the Mid-Atlantic, bringing freezing rain, snow, and strong winds. Utilities have warned that ice accumulation on power lines and hazardous road conditions could slow repairs if failures occur.

Mining facilities operate large fleets of energy-intensive computers to validate Bitcoin transactions. Many can curtail consumption within minutes and have done so during previous cold snaps. In December 2022, miners across Texas voluntarily reduced load to support the grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT.

Bitdeer — which runs more than 290,000 mining rigs globally, including sites in Texas — said it does not expect direct operational disruption but will cut usage if requested by grid operators. “Storms typically do not directly impact our operations. We have standard operating procedures as the season changes, such as winterizing of pipes. The site team monitors the weather situation, so they are responsive. Bitdeer stands ready to fully support the grid should supply constraints occur,” a company spokesperson said. The company noted that ERCOT treats miners as large flexible loads that can be curtailed on short notice.

Industry researchers see this demand response as increasingly common as grids integrate more wind and solar generation. Daniel Batten, a Bitcoin environmental, social, and governance researcher, expects miners to scale back during the storm, consistent with past events. “With extreme weather events becoming more common in jurisdictions throughout the world, the need for Bitcoin mining load balancing, particularly as more solar and wind go onto grids, is only going to increase,” Batten said.

Mining sites near renewable projects often ramp up consumption when power is abundant and cut back when demand rises or generation falls. A recent report from the Digital Assets Research Institute estimated that this flexibility has saved Texas roughly $18 billion by avoiding the need for new gas peaker plants, though other analysts dispute the figure.

The United States hosts a large share of the network’s computing power. Data platforms estimate that U.S.-based operators account for nearly 38% of global hashrate, a measure of total processing capacity. Several major publicly traded miners — including Marathon Digital Holdings and Riot Platforms — operate large facilities in Texas and other states connected to ERCOT and regional grids. In 2024, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported more than 100 crypto-mining facilities nationwide, with the largest clusters in Texas, Georgia, and New York.

ERCOT and other grid managers have created programs allowing high-load customers to reduce consumption during stress events, sometimes with compensation for interruptible service. During severe cold or icing, these reductions can free capacity for residential heating and critical services.

Operators describe preparations that include weatherizing equipment, monitoring transmission conditions, and coordinating with grid controllers ahead of storms. While most mining hardware runs indoors, supporting systems such as cooling, ventilation, and water lines require protection from freezing. On-site teams handle shutdowns and restarts as grid conditions change.

The timing of any curtailments will depend on real-time demand forecasts and grid alerts. If the storm causes significant line icing or generator outages, requests to cut load could begin as the front moves across Texas and into the Southeast. Many facilities can reduce consumption within minutes to help maintain system frequency and service continuity for homes and hospitals.