Texas Data Center Pause Puts Bitcoin Miners’ Power Holdings in Focus

Unchained reports that bitcoin mining companies have increasingly attracted attention as landlords for artificial-intelligence infrastructure, with their strategic value tied to how much power they control and how much of that capacity is located in Texas. The outlet says power has been easier to obtain in the state than in other markets. According to Unchained’s summary, Texas elected Gina Hinojosa governor on Tuesday after she promised to keep approvals for new data centers on hold. The report frames this development as a potential change for companies pursuing AI-related data center conversions, particularly those whose Texas operations already give them access to substantial electricity capacity. The supplied coverage does not identify individual mining companies or specify how the proposed pause would apply to projects already underway. Live network data from mempool.space puts bitcoin’s hash rate at 1009 EH/s and mining difficulty at 148.4T. Those figures provide a current measure of the computational effort securing the network, although the supplied material does not establish how either measure would change as a result of Texas policy or data center demand. Bitcoin is trading at $75,770, down 0.26% over 24 hours and 2.71% over seven days. Its market capitalization is $1.52 trillion within a total crypto market capitalization of $2.61 trillion; the broader market is flat, while the Fear & Greed index stands at 28, indicating fear. The next policy watchpoint is the scope and implementation of any approval hold, especially for projects with existing Texas power access.