[Alcoa Plans to Sell Idle Smelting Plant to NYDIG, Bitcoin Mining Companies Accelerate Energy Infrastructure Deployment] According to Cointelegraph, U.S. aluminum company Alcoa is reportedly nearing an agreement to sell its long-idle Massena East aluminum smelting plant in New York State to Bitcoin mining company NYDIG. Company CEO Bill Oplinger stated that the transaction is expected to be completed by mid-year. The smelting plant, which was shut down in 2014 due to rising energy costs and intensified global competition, features well-established infrastructure such as substations, transmission lines, and high-capacity grid access, making it highly attractive to Bitcoin mining farms and data center operators. Additionally, the site can access hydropower resources provided by the New York Power Authority, helping to reduce energy costs and enhance its low-carbon profile. This move comes amid a growing trend of U.S. industrial sites transitioning to digital infrastructure.