MARA Holdings has acquired a majority stake in French computing infrastructure operator Exaion, marking a significant expansion into artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services.
The deal grants MARA France a 64% ownership in Exaion, with French energy giant EDF retaining a minority stake and continuing as a customer.
This strategic move positions Bitcoin miners to leverage AI and data center computing as mining economics face increasing pressure. Following the 2024 halving and rising network difficulty, companies like MARA are adopting hybrid models, generating revenue from AI cloud and high-performance computing services alongside traditional mining.
Exaion's governance will reflect the new ownership, with board representation from MARA, EDF Pulse Ventures, and NJJ Capital, the investment vehicle of telecom entrepreneur Xavier Niel. Niel and MARA CEO Fred Thiel will both hold board seats.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin's mining difficulty has surged approximately 15%, reversing an earlier decline. This increase, while reinforcing network security, also raises the computing effort required to mine new blocks, potentially adding to operational costs for miners.