According to ChainCatcher, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) latest forecast indicates that by 2035, data center electricity consumption in the United States will account for approximately 20% of the nation’s total power usage, a significant increase from the current level of about 5.9%. The agency has raised its 2035 data center power demand estimate to 106 GW, a 36% increase from its April forecast of 78 GW. Currently, U.S. data centers operate at around 40 GW, representing roughly 3.5%–4% of national electricity demand; under BNEF’s baseline scenario, this share is projected to reach 8.6% by 2035. EPRI’s high-growth model suggests that when accounting for the combined impact of cryptocurrency mining and AI computing demand, the upper limit of this share also points to 20%. In response to the explosive growth in AI computing demand, Bitcoin mining companies are actively transitioning. Companies such as Core Scientific and Riot Platforms have partnered with tech giants like AWS and Google to convert existing mining facilities into AI data centers. Bitcoin mining firms have already secured approximately 6 GW of power capacity, expected to expand to 12 GW by 2027; some analysts estimate that by then, around 20% of their computing capacity will be redirected toward AI workloads. Data from ERCOT, Texas’s grid operator, shows that data centers now account for about 90% of large load applications in the state, with many sites previously used for cryptocurrency mining being repurposed for AI computing infrastructure. This trend is also reflected in capital markets: after emerging from bankruptcy, Core Scientific partnered with AI cloud provider CoreWeave, resulting in a significant rebound in its stock price.
BNEF: US Data Centers to Consume 20% of Power by 2035, Bitcoin Miners Shift to AI
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Summary
Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports that U.S. data centers could consume 20% of the nation’s power by 2035, up from 5.9% today. The 2035 power demand forecast has been raised to 106 GW, a 36% increase from the April 2026 estimate of 78 GW. Bitcoin miners such as Core Scientific and Riot Platforms are shifting toward AI computing, partnering with AWS and Google. These companies have secured 6 GW of power and plan to expand to 12 GW by 2027, with up to 20% of capacity transitioning to AI workloads. Recent inflation data has also intensified scrutiny of energy costs, making AI and crypto-related developments more relevant than ever.
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