Dual Revenue Streams: Bitcoin Mining and AI Cloud
IREN operates data centers that serve two distinct but complementary markets. The bitcoin mining operation runs 50 EH/s of hash rate, making it one of the largest mining fleets globally. The AI cloud business deploys Nvidia GPUs for machine learning training and inference workloads. Both businesses share the same underlying infrastructure: power procurement, cooling systems, network connectivity, and physical security.
Co-CEO Daniel Roberts identified this dual-use model early. Mining data centers already solve the hard problem of securing large amounts of cheap, reliable electricity. When AI training demand exploded, IREN converted a portion of its power capacity to GPU hosting, creating a second revenue stream with higher margins per megawatt than bitcoin mining. The company now approaches $1.25 billion in total annualized revenue, split roughly 80/20 between mining and AI cloud.
The AI Cloud Expansion to 140,000 GPUs
IREN currently operates 10,900 Nvidia GPUs generating $200-250 million in annualized AI cloud revenue. The company plans to expand to 140,000 GPUs by end of 2026, which would support a targeted $3.4 billion in annualized AI cloud revenue. This represents a roughly 13x expansion in GPU count and a proportional revenue increase.
The expansion requires significant capital expenditure for GPU procurement, data center construction, and power infrastructure upgrades. IREN's existing power contracts and site development expertise provide advantages: the company already has 810 MW of operating capacity and can leverage relationships with utilities and grid operators to secure additional power. The economics favor the transition: AI cloud revenue per megawatt exceeds bitcoin mining revenue per megawatt, so reallocating power from mining to AI increases total revenue and margins.
Financial Performance
- •FY2025 Revenue: $501.0 million, up 168% from $187.2 million
- •Q1 FY2026 Revenue: $240.3 million, up 355% from $52.8 million
- •FY2025 Net Income: $86.9 million; Q1 FY2026 net income $384.6 million
- •Bitcoin Mining Economics: All-in cash cost $36,000/BTC vs average realized price $99,000/BTC
- •Data Center Capacity: 810 MW operating; 50 EH/s mining; 10,900 GPUs for AI
- •AI Cloud Target: 140,000 GPUs and $3.4 billion annualized revenue by end 2026
Growth Catalysts
- •GPU Expansion to 140K: 13x increase from current 10,900 GPUs; each GPU deployed adds incremental high-margin AI cloud revenue
- •AI Cloud Revenue Mix Shift: AI generates higher revenue per MW than mining; shifting power allocation from mining to AI improves blended margins
- •Bitcoin Price Leverage: $36K all-in cost versus $99K realized price provides wide margins; continued BTC appreciation increases mining profitability
- •Power Asset Value: 810 MW of operating capacity in a market where data center power is the primary bottleneck; power contracts carry long-term strategic value
- •Dual Business Optionality: Flexibility to allocate capacity between mining and AI based on relative economics; natural hedge against either market softening
Risks and Challenges
- •Execution Risk on 140K GPU Target: Scaling from 10,900 to 140,000 GPUs in roughly one year requires massive capital deployment, GPU procurement, and data center construction with no room for delays
- •Capital Requirements: GPU purchases and infrastructure buildout require billions in capital; funding may dilute shareholders through equity raises or increase debt burden
- •Bitcoin Price Risk: Mining revenue depends on BTC price; a sustained decline to $50,000 would cut mining margins by more than half
- •Competition for GPU Allocation: Nvidia prioritizes hyperscalers and large AI companies; IREN must compete for GPU supply against larger, better-capitalized buyers
- •AI Compute Pricing Pressure: As more GPU capacity comes online from CoreWeave, Nebius, and hyperscalers, AI cloud pricing may compress and reduce margins
Competitive Landscape
In bitcoin mining, IREN competes with MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, CleanSpark, and Core Scientific. IREN's advantage is the dual-use model: the ability to allocate power between mining and AI based on relative economics. Core Scientific follows a similar strategy, converting mining capacity to AI hosting. MARA and Riot remain primarily focused on bitcoin mining.
In AI cloud, IREN competes with CoreWeave, Nebius, Lambda, and the hyperscalers. IREN is smaller than CoreWeave but has an advantage in owning power assets and operating data centers rather than leasing them. The vertically integrated model, from power procurement to GPU deployment to customer-facing cloud, provides cost control that pure GPU cloud providers cannot match.
Who Is This Stock Suitable For?
Perfect For
- ✓Investors who want dual exposure to bitcoin mining and AI cloud computing in a single company
- ✓Growth investors seeking triple-digit revenue growth backed by concrete GPU expansion plans
- ✓Those who believe power assets and data center infrastructure will be the most valuable assets in the AI era
- ✓Bitcoin-bullish investors who also want AI cloud optionality as a hedge against mining cycle volatility
Less Suitable For
- ✗Income investors (no dividend; company reinvesting aggressively in GPU and data center expansion)
- ✗Risk-averse investors (extreme capital intensity, execution risk on 13x GPU scaling, bitcoin price sensitivity)
- ✗Those who believe AI cloud pricing will compress as supply expands, reducing margins for independent providers
- ✗Investors uncomfortable with the rapid pace of capital deployment and potential dilution
Investment Thesis
IREN has built a data center business that generates revenue from both bitcoin mining and AI cloud computing, with 810 MW of power capacity providing the foundation. The mining operation produces bitcoin at $36,000 all-in cost versus $99,000 realized price, generating substantial cash flow. The AI cloud business, still early at 10,900 GPUs, targets a massive expansion to 140,000 GPUs and $3.4 billion in annualized revenue by end 2026.
The investment thesis depends on two factors: bitcoin prices staying high enough to fund the AI expansion, and the AI cloud business scaling as planned. If both materialize, IREN transitions from a mining company to a diversified digital infrastructure operator with multiple revenue streams. Co-CEO Daniel Roberts has a track record of scaling power infrastructure rapidly, but the 140,000 GPU target is ambitious by any standard. For investors who want combined BTC and AI exposure with an owner-operator model, IREN offers a differentiated approach in the data center space.