The United Arab Emirates has formally joined forces with a small however rising variety of international locations that deal with Bitcoin mining as a part of their nationwide infrastructure. On the similar time, long-dormant miners from the community’s early days moved $181 million value of BTC.
In line with a latest announcement circulating on social media, the UAE authorities is now sponsoring a Bitcoin mining operation that takes benefit of the nation’s massive provide of pure gasoline. Binance founder CZ commented that the UAE “has been mining for a while,” including that the nation’s power demand peaks just for three days in the summertime, and its manufacturing capability will cowl that interval, with the remaining surplus power partially transformed into Bitcoin.
Vitality demand within the UAE peaks throughout three days in summer time. Their skills cowl it. For the remainder of the 12 months, they’ve surplus power, which (a part of) is transformed into Bitcoin. Sturdy retailer of worth with minimal storage prices. It makes good sense. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/Jcw2cItMsB
— CZ🔶BNB (@cz_binance) January 12, 2026
Arkham Intelligence reported in August 2025 that the United Arab Emirates had gathered roughly 6,300-6,450 BTC, value roughly $700 million on the time, via state-sponsored mining performed via Citadel Mining. The nation considers Bitcoin mining to be a part of its strategic infrastructure, inserting it in the identical class as information centres, communications and power initiatives.
Insurance policies throughout the federation are usually not uniform. In September 2025, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi banned cryptocurrency mining on agricultural land and launched fines of as much as Dh100,000 for violators to guard power sources and land use rules.
The report additionally notes that the governments of El Salvador, Bhutan, Japan, Russia, and Iran are concerned in or sponsoring Bitcoin mining in varied methods. El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as its authorized tender in 2021 and reversed course in 2025, nevertheless it nonetheless holds 7,517 BTC and has mined 474 BTC over the previous three years utilizing geothermal energy from volcanoes.
In 2023, Bhutan revealed that it had been secretly mining Bitcoin since 2018, producing an estimated 55 to 75 BTC per week and utilizing the proceeds to pay civil servants and fund public companies. Ethiopia has agreements with worldwide miners to faucet surplus hydropower, whereas Iran legalized mining on the nationwide degree in 2019. However then it closed 100 unlawful farms in 2025, and even authorized operations usually shut down throughout power shortages.
Early Bitcoin miner transfers 2,000 BTC to Coinbase
Alongside state exercise, on-chain information exhibits new exercise by early miners. CryptoQuant’s Julio Moreno reported that miners energetic through the “Satoshi period” moved round $181 million in Bitcoin, marking the primary such exercise by the group since November 2024, when BTC was buying and selling close to $91,000.
Satoshi-era miners moved 2,000 Bitcoin at the moment, the primary time this has occurred since November 2024, when Bitcoin was round $91,000.
Traditionally, Satoshi-era miners would transfer Bitcoin at key inflection factors. pic.twitter.com/cUKIM5uXL6
— Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) January 10, 2026
TimechainIndex founder Sani revealed blockchain information displaying that miners managing funds throughout 40 Pay-to-Public-Key wallets transferred 2,000 BTC, raised from block rewards which have been dormant since 2010, to wallets related to the Coinbase change.
Associated: Eric Trump says US Bitcoin mining services are ‘residing proof’ of cryptocurrencies
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