Many cryptocurrency miners consider AI hosting but often keep mining because ASICs are specialized for SHA256 and blockchain tasks currently.

Hardware and cost barriers

Setting up a rack for AI hosting exceeds ₽250 K because it requires a top GPU, disk, RAM and an eight‑core CPU.

By contrast, a two‑year‑old ASIC bought for ₽100 K can remain profitable for mining specific algorithms like SHA256 for some operators.

Operators' incentives

In 2025, 70% of top miners already generate profit from AI workloads, while the remaining 30% prepare to enter the new field.

Only a small number of operators fully abandon blockchain mining, preferring instead to diversify revenue without leaving existing infrastructure.

Role of small participants

Individual miners and small companies supply 67% of capacity for $BTC, so they often continue mining because of bought equipment and ongoing profitability.

If half of miners hypothetically left mining, the remaining operators would proportionally inherit their share of rewards, potentially doubling individual returns.

Given current reluctance to abandon farms in the short term, a mass exodus appears unlikely unless economic signals shift drastically.

Contracts and risk management

Large-scale miners secure multi-year contracts with cloud providers, receiving fixed revenues that thus reduce exposure to crypto price volatility.

Such arrangements allow miners to offset mining downturns with contracted AI hosting income and preserve operational continuity during market downturns.

For most miners, AI hosting represents diversification rather than replacement, allowing mining and AI services to coexist and stabilise revenues.