UK gas-investment firm weighs bitcoin mining, draws criticism

Reabold Resources' gas field is so large it could theoretically mine 50,000 BTC, local media said. The firm said it will test bitcoin mining before pivoting to data centers. What to know : Reabold Resources is considering a pilot gas-powered bitcoin mining station at its West Newton A well site in northern England to showcase how its gas reserves could fuel future data centers. The company says bitcoin mining would initially help finance further development of the large onshore gas field and serve as a proof of concept for a potentially much larger data-center operation. Reabold’s plan drew criticism amid concerns about U.K. gas supplies, but the government has said such concerns are unfounded, and the firm maintains the field will primarily support U.K. energy security as bitcoin miners increasingly pivot toward broader computing and AI services.