Bitcoin miners lost $1.5 billion in hardware capacity in H1 2026, with equipment being repurposed for high-performance AI computing as the industry pivots from cryptocurrency to AI workloads.

In the first half of 2026, publicly traded Bitcoin miners shed approximately 75 exahashes per second of mining capacity—equipment valued at roughly $1.5 billion—as the industry pivoted toward high-performance computing. Miners including Cipher Digital have begun converting rigs to HPC applications, a transition that has generated significant impairment charges across the sector. Core Scientific reported $266.5 million in equipment write-downs, reflecting depressed Bitcoin prices and declining mining returns that prompted a reassessment of asset valuations and the financial viability of conversion to emerging technologies.

Despite these substantial losses, Core Scientific's stock on Pluang has held firm, trading at Rp394 as of October 4, 2026—up 0.38% for the period—with a market capitalization of Rp593.99 million. Buy-sell order activity remains balanced, signaling steady investor appetite even as the broader sector grapples with the economics of equipment impairment and technological transition.