Trump Family-backed American Bitcoin (ABTC) expands mining fleet 12% as rivals pivot toward AI

CoinDesk

by Olivier Acuna

March 3, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

American Bitcoin (ABTC), a crypto mining firm co-founded by Eric Trump, has announced a significant expansion of its mining operations. The company purchased 11,298 ASIC miners, boosting its hashing power by approximately 12%. This move sets ABTC apart from industry peers, many of whom are shifting away from bitcoin mining and reallocating resources toward AI infrastructure. The new hardware will add 3.05 EH/s to ABTC's network, accounting for roughly 0.3% of the global hashrate. This increase is expected to generate around 42 bitcoins per month, translating to approximately $2.9 million in monthly revenue at current bitcoin prices. The mining equipment is scheduled for delivery and deployment at ABTC’s Drumheller facility in Alberta, Canada, by March 2026. Eric Trump emphasized the company's commitment to growing American-owned hashrate, highlighting the importance of protecting the Bitcoin network and driving innovation. However, despite this strategic expansion, ABTC shares dropped by 2.6% to $0.99 in Tuesday trading. This decision by ABTC comes amid a broader trend in the crypto industry, where many publicly traded miners are transitioning away from bitcoin mining. Instead of focusing on traditional mining operations, these companies are increasingly investing in AI infrastructure, signaling a potential shift in market dynamics. By contrast, ABTC's move reflects a bet on the long-term viability and dominance of Bitcoin as a leading cryptocurrency. The significance of this announcement lies in its implications for the future of Bitcoin mining. ABCTC’s decision to expand its operations underscores the ongoing competition within the crypto space, where different players are adopting divergent strategies. While some firms are exploring

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 3/3/2026