American Bitcoin to Add 3 EH/s With New S21XP Purchase, Reactivating Drumheller Site
Trump family-backed American Bitcoin has purchased 11,298 Bitcoin miners, adding about 3.05 EH/s of computing power as it moves to expand capacity at a previously shuttered site in Alberta, Canada.
The Miami-based company said Monday the new machines will operate at an efficiency of roughly 13.5 J/TH and are expected to be delivered and deployed in March at a Drumheller facility. After installation, American Bitcoin’s fleet would total 89,242 miners, representing about 28.1 EH/s of owned hashrate at an average efficiency of 16.0 J/TH.
The company did not disclose the manufacturer or seller of the machines. Based on the stated specifications of about 270 TH/s at 13.5 J/TH, the equipment appears consistent with Bitmain’s S21 XP model, one of the more efficient units currently on the market. It was not immediately clear whether the purchase was made directly from the manufacturer or through third-party brokers.
The expansion marks a reversal for the Drumheller site, which was closed in March 2024 by Hut 8 (NASDAQ: HUT), American Bitcoin’s parent company. At the time, Hut 8 cited elevated energy costs and voltage issues on Alberta’s AESO grid as factors that had significantly affected profitability. The company relocated more efficient miners to its Medicine Hat facility and retired older units, while keeping the lease on Drumheller as a low-cost option to restart operations if market conditions improved.
Local outlet Drumheller Online reported in late January that activity seemed to have resumed at the site, noting construction crews and debris piles but saying it was unclear whether the facility was being dismantled or refurbished.
Monday’s announcement suggests the site is being brought back into service as a Bitcoin mining operation rather than converted to high-performance computing infrastructure, a pivot several North American miners have pursued in response to volatile hashprice and tighter margins.
American Bitcoin described the purchase as part of its strategy to accumulate Bitcoin at a cost below spot prices by deploying high-efficiency hardware and optimizing energy costs.
The move comes as public miners increasingly emphasize fleet efficiency and scale in an environment where network difficulty remains near record levels and capital markets have reopened selectively for operators with stronger balance sheets.
American Bitcoin did not disclose the purchase price of the machines or how the acquisition will be financed.
