Why Bitcoin Miners Are Pivoting To AI Data Centers | Josh Solesbury

In this episode, Josh Solesbury joins the show to discuss the bitcoin mining landscape, the ongoing transition to AI/HPC, and the future of the industry. We also delve into industry bottlenecks, the risks of transitioning to AI, and much more. Enjoy! — Follow Josh Solesbury: https://x.com/joshsolesbury Follow Quinn: https://x.com/qthomp Follow On The Margin:   / onthemarginpod   Follow Blockworks:   / blockworks_   — Polkadot is the foundation for an open and resilient web. Governed by its users, Polkadot empowers the largest DAO of 1.3M DOT holders to shape the network’s future. Home to 500+ apps and chains backed by $6B in shared security, Polkadot is revolutionizing DeFi, GameFi, AI, RWAs, and more. With upgrades like Async Backing, Agile Coretime, Elastic Scaling, and JAM on the horizon, now’s the time to join. Start your journey today at polkadot.com/get-started Ledger, the global leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors On The Margin. As Bitcoin adoption grows, Ledger celebrates 10 years of securing over 20% of the world’s crypto. Buy a LEDGER™ device now for true self-custody and peace of mind in securing your Bitcoin. Devices are also available in Bitcoin orange. For every device ordered in BTC Orange, we’ll donate $5 to brink.dev. Buy now at Ledger.com. MANTRA is a purpose-built RWA Layer 1 blockchain capable of adherence and enforcement of real world regulatory requirements. As a permissionless chain, MANTRA empowers developers and institutions to seamlessly participate in the evolving RWA tokenization space by offering advanced tech modules, compliance mechanisms, and cross-chain interoperability. Key Features: Built using Cosmos SDK, IBC compatible, with CosmWasm supported Secured via a sovereign PoS validator set Scalable up to 10k TPS Built-in Modules, SDKs and APIs to create, trade and manage regulatory compliant RWAs Improved User Experience to onboard non-native users and institutions to Web3 Learn more: https://www.mantrachain.io/ — Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:32 Josh's Background 03:52 Overview Of The Bitcoin Mining Landscape 10:44 Bitcoin Mining Cyclicality 12:55 Industry Consolidation 16:18 Differentiating Miners 22:39 Miner Transition To AI/HPC 36:44 Ads 38:53 Miner Transition To AI/HPC (Continued) 42:09 Chips & Bottlenecks 49:18 Why Don't Miners Abandon Bitcoin For AI? 59:18 CoreWeave & Core Scientific 01:04:30 Risks To Transition To AI/HPC 01:07:55 The Future Of The Mining Industry — Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on On The Margin should be considered as investment advice. Please always do your own research & speak to a financial advisor before thinking about, thinking about putting your money into these crazy markets.