SMR Developer Nuclea Energy and Bitcoin Miner New Mining Partner to Assess Nuclear Power for US Data Centers

Small modular reactor (SMR) developer Nuclea Energy has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based Bitcoin miner New Mining Co. to evaluate the feasibility of deploying its nuclear reactor technology to power the miner's data center operations behind the meter. The agreement marks another step in the growing convergence between advanced nuclear energy and digital infrastructure, as operators seek reliable, carbon-free power sources to support energy-intensive workloads.

The MoU establishes a collaborative framework under which the two companies will assess co-locating advanced modular power units, utilizing Nuclea's proprietary technology, at or adjacent to New Mining's data center facilities across the United States. The evaluation is structured in two phases, according to the companies. The initial phase will focus on engineering scoping for New Mining's current operational data center load of approximately 30MWe, followed by a scalability phase that will examine modular expansion toward a capacity of up to 100MWe.

New Mining CEO Denis Slabakov emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, "As our infrastructure continues to scale, exploring reliable, carbon-free, behind-the-meter power options is a natural next step for our operations. Bitcoin mining is an energy-intensive business, and access to stable, competitively priced power has always been central to how we compete." His remarks underscore the critical role that power procurement plays in the economics of cryptocurrency mining, where electricity costs often represent the largest operational expense.

Nuclea Energy's flagship product is the Morphues microreactor, a 3.5MW reactor designed to be housed in a modular container. The unit is powered by HALUE fuel and features a five-year refueling cycle, with the ability to be stacked in multiples due to its modular design. The company has targeted its first deployment for sometime in 2030. Nuclea CEO Josef Freundorfer highlighted the company's methodical approach, noting, "The phased approach outlined in this MoU reflects how we like to work: start with a clear-eyed technical assessment of an operator's actual load profile, and let the data determine whether our technology is the right fit before either side commits to anything further. We look forward to working closely with the New Mining team throughout this evaluation."

New Mining, which specializes in ASIC cryptocurrency mining and hosting services, currently operates an estimated 65MW of capacity across sites in North Dakota and Minnesota. The company joins a growing list of advanced nuclear firms that have partnered with digital infrastructure companies. Most recently, Crusoe partnered with Aalo Atomics on what could be the first nuclear-powered AI data center at the Idaho National Laboratory. A broader swathe of data center operators and hyperscalers, including Google, Data4, Oracle, Switch, and Equinix, have also expressed support for the technology.

The partnership reflects a wider industry trend toward behind-the-meter power solutions as data center operators grapple with grid constraints and rising demand for electricity. For Bitcoin miners specifically, securing dedicated, low-cost power sources is increasingly seen as a competitive advantage, while for nuclear developers, the digital infrastructure sector offers a scalable customer base with predictable, high-density load profiles. The outcome of this evaluation could provide a template for future collaborations between advanced nuclear technology providers and energy-intensive data center operators.