CleanSpark’s 13% jump shows investors are rewarding miners that add AI hosting to their Bitcoin operations.
Liquid cooling allows these sites to run hotter, denser gear with less wasted energy.
Multi-year AI contracts can provide a steady cash flow that counters Bitcoin’s price swings and network difficulty.
Over time, this trend will shift companies from pure miners into hybrid digital infrastructure operators.
CleanSpark (CLSK), which proclaims itself “America’s Bitcoin Miner,” jumped 13% after announcing it would be working with sustainable AI data center architect Submer to build AI-focused campuses around the United States.
While most partnerships and expansion announcements tend to result in a stock jump, this one is significant for a number of reasons. Namely, the potential to solve a long-standing problem in the Bitcoin mining space, and the creation of a sustainability framework that others can follow.
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Balancing Profit and Planet: CleanSpark’s Push for Sustainable Bitcoin Mining
While Bitcoin mining can be a lucrative endeavor, it is equally environmentally unfriendly. The process “consumed 173.42 TWh of electricity during the 2020-2021 period,” according to a 2023 study by the American Geophysical Union (AGU). For reference, such consumption usurps that of some nations.
Bitcoin mining’s global footprint. | Source: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
Mining activity has only increased over the following years, and this isn’t to mention the introduction of various power-hungry cryptocurrencies since. These miners shape policy and permits in their areas of operation. Nearby towns may ask about noise, heat, water, and energy grid stress before allowing for expansions.
CleanSpark is already a prominent mining operator. It cites over one gigawatt (GW) of land and data centers in its portfolio across the United States, alongside a development pipeline of over 2 GW, and understands more than most the need for sustainability. Its partnership with Submer, a company that designs liquid-cooled datacenters for AI computing that emphasize environmental cleanliness, will, in theory, lead to a powerhouse combination.
This joint play will supposedly introduce liquid cooling, which wastes less energy than blasting cold air through a warehouse. If CleanSpark can run hotter machines with less overhead, especially as it expands into AI services, margins can improve. More importantly, though, it signals a positive step towards sustainability, a great sign for investors and the main reason for its single-day jump.
Every dollar not spent on fans and cooling solutions can be spent on actual compute power or saved for later use. This stat is known as power usage effectiveness (PUE), which is the deciding factor regarding a site’s efficiency. A lower PUE means less waste.
CleanSpark’s Hybrid Model of Bitcoin and AI Operations
Now, remember that Bitcoin mining isn’t always profitable. A miner only earns if they’re the one to uncover a block’s hash, after all. That success is based on a variety of factors, such as the network’s hash rate and whether or not you’re part of a mining pool. Otherwise, miners are just wasting power.
These CleanSpark-Submer hybrid datacenters cater not only to Bitcoin miners but to AI operators that rent the space. Basically, this deal doesn’t just mean “more machines.” It’s a second revenue path. Investors rewarded that steadier baseline.
Here’s how these hybrid spaces help:
Process separation: Data center operators will separate the Bitcoin mining rooms and the AI service rooms, with each space specially designed to maximize efficiency and sustainability.
Business-model shift: When Bitcoin mining is profitable, datacenters can route more power to Bitcoin-efficient GPUs, otherwise known as ASICs. If conditions lead to a higher mining difficulty, operators can shift power toward AI services rather than wasting it on unprofitable mining.
Steady income: Sustainability is far from cheap. The steady income provided by the more reliable AI services ensures that such an expensive operation can stay afloat. Think X amount of dollars per kilowatt/month as a data center’s rent. AI services are necessary to help make rent, while Bitcoin mining is the riskier yet still profitable side hustle.
Liquid cooling: Submer’s liquid cooling solutions allow more computing power in a condensed space, keeping them at an operational temperature without spending more on alternative cooling solutions.
Outside of Submer’s AI expertise, CleanSpark recently hired a Senior Vice President of AI Data Centers, Jeffrey Thomas. Thomas will likely oversee these hybrid implementations.
CleanSpark announces Thomas joins the company. | Source: @CleanSpark_Inc on X
While CleanSpark seems to have good intentions, this deal is far from over:
Definitive agreements: The Submer is currently non-binding. Definitive agreements must detail terms and pricing before investors go all in.
Parts backlog: CleanSpark isn’t the only company after sustainable data centers. Liquid cooling parts are backlogged across the tech industry. A parts delay can lead to inflated budgets and timeline lag, which can compound into a host of other issues.
Operational changes: As mentioned, AI operations are not the same as ASIC halls. CleanSpark must account for budget and operational changes, though Thomas will surely play a hand in that transition.
The CleanSpark Submer deal is a clear sign of intent: harness cheaper power and large data centers into an AI-ready service that helps steady income while keeping Bitcoin as a priority.
The environmental story improves if these centers waste less power on cooling and redistribute it toward computation, and if CleanSpark turns this potential collaboration into one in ink, its 13% pop won’t be so much of a spike, but the start of a long upward trend.
What exactly does Submer add that CleanSpark didn’t already have?
Efficient liquid cooling hardware and data center design that allows for AI services with reasonable cooling methods.
Can a site really switch between Bitcoin mining and AI on the fly?
Not instantly, but site operators can allocate power between ASIC halls and AI halls over time based on profit margins and contract commitments.
Does adding AI reduce a miner’s Bitcoin output?
It can if the site operator reallocates power away from Bitcoin, but the trade-off is steadier revenue through AI services. Smart operators balance both based on the state of the market.
Does this make miners more like data center companies?
Yes. The model shifts CleanSpark sites from pure Bitcoin exposure to a hybrid digital infrastructure.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, financial advice. We do not make any warranties regarding the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. All investments involve risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We recommend consulting a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Max Moeller is a Chicago‑based writer and video editor passionate about games, tech, and crypto. Whether it’s crafting clear, insightful articles or piecing together engaging video retrospectives, he’s driven by curiosity and takes pride in keeping things human. Since 2017, Max has been published in a variety of notable crypto magazines.
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