The United Arab Emirates has formally aligned itself with a small however rising group of nations that deal with Bitcoin mining as state-linked infrastructure. On the similar time, a long-dormant miner from the early days of the community has moved $181 million price of BTC.
Latest bulletins circulating on social media state that the UAE authorities now sponsors Bitcoin mining operations powered by the nation’s giant pure gasoline provide. Binance founder CZ commented that the UAE “has been mining for some time,” including that the nation’s peak vitality demand lasts solely three days in the summertime and that capability covers that interval, leaving surplus vitality for the remainder of the yr that’s partly transformed into Bitcoin.
UAE’s peak vitality demand are 3 days in the summertime. Their capability covers that. For the remainder of the yr, they’ve a surplus of vitality, (a few of) which will get transformed to bitcoin. Sturdy retailer of worth with lowest storage value. Makes good sense. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/Jcw2cItMsB
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) January 12, 2026
Arkham Intelligence reported in August 2025 that the UAE had amassed roughly 6,300–6,450 BTC, valued at about $700 million on the time, by state-backed mining performed by way of Citadel Mining. The nation considers Bitcoin mining a part of its strategic infrastructure, putting it in the identical class as information facilities, telecoms, and vitality initiatives.
Coverage throughout the federation shouldn’t be uniform. In September 2025, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi banned crypto mining on agricultural land and launched fines of as much as AED 100,000 for violations to guard vitality sources and land-use guidelines.
Experiences additionally word that governments in El Salvador, Bhutan, Japan, Russia, and Iran are concerned in or sponsor Bitcoin mining in several varieties. El Salvador, which adopted Bitcoin as authorized tender in 2021 earlier than reversing that step in 2025, nonetheless holds 7,517 BTC and has mined 474 BTC over the previous three years, using geothermal energy from volcanoes.
Bhutan disclosed in 2023 that it had secretly mined Bitcoin since 2018, producing an estimated 55–75 BTC per week, and used the proceeds to assist fund civil servant salaries and public companies. Ethiopia has agreements with worldwide miners to make the most of surplus hydroelectric energy, whereas Iran legalized mining on the state degree in 2019. Nonetheless, it later shut down 100 unlawful farms in 2025 and periodically suspended even authorized operations throughout vitality shortages.
Early Bitcoin Miner Sends 2,000 BTC to Coinbase
Alongside state exercise, on-chain information exhibits renewed motion from early miners. CryptoQuant’s Julio Moreno reported {that a} miner energetic within the “Satoshi period” moved about $181 million in Bitcoin, marking the primary such exercise by that cohort since November 2024, when BTC traded close to $91,000.
A miner from the Satoshi period moved 2K Bitcoin as we speak, the primary time this occurs since November 2024, when Bitcoin was at ~$91K.
Traditionally, Satoshi-era miners transfer their Bitcoin at key inflection factors. pic.twitter.com/cUKIM5uXL6
— Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) January 10, 2026
Sani, founding father of TimechainIndex, revealed blockchain information indicating {that a} miner controlling funds throughout 40 Pay-to-Public-Key wallets despatched 2,000 BTC, sourced from block rewards that had been dormant since 2010, to wallets related to the Coinbase alternate.
Associated: Eric Trump Name American Bitcoin Mining Facility, ‘Residing Proof’ of Crypto
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