Bitcoin Miner Hut 8's Stock Soars After Inking $7 Billion Google-Backed AI Deal

Group 1 - Hut8 has secured a $7 billion, 15-year deal with Fluidstack, backed by Google, to provide power for high-performance computing at a 245MW data center in Louisiana [1][4] - Following the announcement, Hut8's shares rose over 15% to $42.55, marking a nearly 13% increase in the last month and over 150% in the last six months [1] - The deal includes options for up to 15 years of renewal, potentially increasing the contract value to $17.7 billion [4] Group 2 - Hut8's CEO emphasized the importance of disciplined execution in securing the right transaction, highlighting a long-term focus on commercialization [2] - The partnership involves collaboration with various entities, including the State of Louisiana, Entergy, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Vertiv, and Jacobs, to develop AI and high-performance computing infrastructure [3] - The construction of the new site is expected to create up to 265 jobs in Louisiana, with the first data hall projected to be completed by Q2 2027 [7] Group 3 - The trend of Bitcoin miners expanding into AI compute is evident, with other companies like Cipher Mining and TeraWulf also securing significant deals backed by Google [6] - Hut8's initiative reflects a broader industry movement where Bitcoin miners are diversifying their operations to include AI services alongside traditional mining [5][6]