US data center restrictions could give Bitcoin miners an edge in AI, though challenges remain
Bitcoin miners with secured power could gain an advantage in building AI data centers after voters in 40 of 41 US local contests imposed restrictions on new development.
The restrictions include citywide bans, limits on larger facilities, temporary pauses on new projects and voter approval requirements for some developments. These local decisions could significantly impact the race to build AI infrastructure, particularly for Bitcoin miners looking to transition.
The midterms also brought closer scrutiny from Congress over who pays for the grid upgrades that data centers need, industry experts told Cointelegraph. Voters in several states weighed in on data center development during the Nov. 3 US midterms, when local measures appeared on the same ballots as congressional races.
Local restrictions make expansion harder
Miners' shift to AI infrastructure is already underway, with publicly listed Bitcoin miners announcing more than $70 billion in AI and advanced computing contracts during 2025 and early 2026, according to a first-quarter report by CoinShares.
If a Bitcoin miner has not yet repurposed their electric contract and physical plant to AI, the case to do so just got more compelling
Last week, voters backed 27 measures to limit or oppose new data centers in the elections, according to Ballotpedia. These included five complete bans, 12 partial bans and six-month pauses on new projects in three Maine towns.
In Grove City, Ohio, voters approved a rule requiring public approval for large projects that use more than 20 megawatts of electricity, among other conditions. Jordan Knecht emphasized that local dynamics will be crucial for miners transitioning to AI.
Expanding into AI is not that simple
Building AI-ready data center infrastructure can cost between $8 million and $15 million per megawatt, compared with $700,000 to $1 million per megawatt for traditional mining facilities, according to a 2026 report by CoinShares.
Transitioning from Bitcoin mining to AI workloads requires significant additional investment in infrastructure for cooling, networking, and reliability. Yuliya Barabash pointed to differences in electricity needs between Bitcoin mining and AI data centers.
Higher electricity prices and additional regulatory requirements could make some projects less profitable or delay their implementation
The International Energy Agency estimates that data centers used 224 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, a figure projected to nearly double to 426 terawatt-hours by 2030.
The impact of Congressional changes
The incoming Democratic-controlled Congress is examining who should pay to expand the grid for large data centers. Lawmakers may take a closer look at how those projects affect electricity costs and how they get approved.
Miners will swap to AI because it is a better ROI than mining
Experts noted that closer attention does not necessarily mean Congress will discourage data center development. Jamie Brown believes miners will swap to AI because it offers a better return on investment than mining.
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