Trump’s Data Center Power Call Leaves Bitcoin Miners’ Scope Unclear

President Donald Trump called for new, large U.S. data centers to generate their own electricity, leaving the scope of the call for Bitcoin (BTC) mining facilities unclear.

In a post at 1:37 a.m. ET (05:37 UTC) on Oct. 21, Trump also urged operators to give or sell surplus electricity to local communities or the grid. He called for operators to pay a dividend to host communities or individual residents.

The administration’s March 4 Ratepayer Protection Pledge lets participating companies build, bring or buy new power supply. Purchased power can come from new or otherwise additive plants. The pledge also requires companies to pay for delivery upgrades their facilities need, while separate utility rates are voluntary.

Trump’s post did not address whether buying power from a new or additive plant would meet his call for data centers to generate electricity. It also gave no effective date or enforcement process and did not specify whether Bitcoin mining facilities would be covered.

Bitdeer had signed the pledge by Sept. 22. The company operates Bitcoin mining facilities and is expanding into AI infrastructure. Trump’s post did not mention Bitcoin mining.

The cost of data-center energy infrastructure has also become an issue in U.S. midterm campaigns.