American Bitcoin Acquires 11,298 ASIC Miners, Restarts Dormant Drumheller Data Center
Hut 8's subsidiary purchased over 11,000 ASIC miners for its Drumheller facility, which has been offline since March 2024. The deployment will push American Bitcoin's total hashrate to 28.1 EH/s.
American Bitcoin, a subsidiary of Hut 8, has purchased 11,298 ASIC miners destined for its data center in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. The company expects the equipment to be delivered and operational by March 2026.
«American Bitcoin adds an additional 11,298 ASICs to its fleet representing ~3.05 EH/s at ~13.5 J/TH. Upon anticipated deployment in March 2026, the Company's total owned fleet is expected to reach ~89,242 miners representing ~28.1 EH/s of owned capacity at an average efficiency…» — American Bitcoin (@ABTC), original post
Dormant Facility Gets a Second Life
The deployment effectively brings the Drumheller site back to full operation. The facility was mothballed in March 2024 due to elevated electricity costs and voltage issues on the local power grid. At that time, the most efficient miners were relocated to another site, outdated machines were decommissioned, and the data center itself was preserved as a low-cost backup option should market conditions improve.
Signs of renewed activity emerged in January 2026, when local outlet Drumheller Online reported construction equipment appearing on the premises. The official announcement now confirms the site will be dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin mining — rather than pivoting to high-performance computing or AI workloads, a route many competitors have taken.
Technical Specs and Market Position
The new machines will add 3.05 EH/s of computing power at an efficiency of 13.5 J/TH. Once fully installed, American Bitcoin's total fleet will reach 89,242 units with a combined hashrate of 28.1 EH/s.
Before the new deployment, the company's operational hashrate stands at 21.9 EH/s against an installed capacity of 25 EH/s, representing approximately 2.06% of the global Bitcoin network's total computing power. This places American Bitcoin in eighth position among public mining companies worldwide.
Journalists at TheEnergyMag suggested the published specifications are consistent with the Bitmain S21 XP, one of the most efficient mining units currently available. American Bitcoin has not disclosed the manufacturer, the purchase price, or how the acquisition was financed.
A Strategy Built on Accumulation
According to the company's press release, American Bitcoin's business model centers on mining Bitcoin below market price and holding the proceeds. In Q4 2025, the firm's mining cost came in 53% below the spot price of the asset.
President Matt Prusak stated that all management decisions are oriented toward maximizing Bitcoin accumulation. Co-founder Eric Trump emphasized the importance of expanding mining capacity within the United States, framing it as a way to protect the network and maintain the country's leadership in the industry.
Why This Matters
American Bitcoin's decision to restart a mothballed facility for pure Bitcoin mining runs counter to a prevailing industry trend, where many miners are repurposing infrastructure for AI and high-performance computing. The move signals confidence in the economics of Bitcoin mining at current price levels and energy costs. The 28.1 EH/s target would solidify the company's position among the top ten public miners globally.
MARA Holdings Revises Its Treasury Approach
In a parallel development, MARA Holdings — the largest public Bitcoin miner by held assets — has updated its treasury strategy for 2026 to include the potential sale of accumulated Bitcoin reserves. This marks a departure from the company's historical approach of strictly holding all mined coins as a long-term investment.
MARA representatives explained that the strategy shifted in the second half of 2025. The company may now hold Bitcoin for long-term investment while also periodically buying or selling based on market conditions and capital allocation priorities.
As of December 31, 2025, MARA held 53,822 BTC. Roughly 28% of those coins were deployed in investment activities:
- 9,377 BTC lent to counterparties;
- 5,938 BTC pledged as collateral for $350 million in credit facilities.
The lending operations generated $32.1 million in interest income. Meanwhile, in February, the company reported losses of $1.7 billion and announced plans to shift focus toward artificial intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ASIC miners did American Bitcoin purchase?
American Bitcoin acquired 11,298 ASIC miners for deployment at its Drumheller, Canada data center. Once installed, the company's total fleet will reach 89,242 units.
What will American Bitcoin's hashrate be after the expansion?
The new machines add 3.05 EH/s of computing power. After full deployment, American Bitcoin's total hashrate is expected to reach 28.1 EH/s, representing about 2% of the global Bitcoin network.
Why was the Drumheller data center shut down?
The facility was mothballed in March 2024 due to high electricity costs and voltage issues on the local power grid. Efficient miners were relocated while outdated equipment was decommissioned.
What ASIC model did American Bitcoin buy?
The company did not disclose the manufacturer or model. Journalists at TheEnergyMag speculated the specs match the Bitmain S21 XP, one of the most efficient miners currently available on the market.
Why is MARA Holdings changing its Bitcoin treasury strategy?
MARA Holdings updated its 2026 strategy to allow potential sales of accumulated Bitcoin, departing from its historical hold-only approach. The company holds 53,822 BTC, with about 28% already deployed in lending and collateral operations.
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