The risks of underground mining farms in China are hard to conceal, and Bitcoin mining in the Asia-Pacific region is still striving for a green transformation.

Bitcoin mining remains the core pillar of the encrypted economy, and the Asia-Pacific region, with its abundant hydropower, natural gas, and surplus electricity, is becoming an important source of "green computing power" globally. Despite the ongoing transparency risks associated with underground mining activities in China, renewable energy mining cases from Bhutan, the UAE, Australia, and other regions are driving the Asia-Pacific Bitcoin mining towards sustainability and efficiency.

Asia-Pacific Mining Landscape: Energy Advantages and Policy Challenges Coexist

(Source: Trading View)

Since China's strict crackdown on Bitcoin mining in 2021, computing power has gradually shifted to other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Bhutan, leveraging its hydropower resources, has partnered with Bitdeer to expand its mining capacity to 1,200MW, becoming a renewable energy mining center; Marathon Digital in Abu Dhabi has established a 200MW immersion cooling mining farm in collaboration with Zero Two, utilizing flare gas and advanced cooling technologies to cope with extreme weather; in Australia, Iris Energy combines its 50EH/s computing power with AI computing, showcasing the potential for the integration of energy and the digital industry.

However, mining in the Asia-Pacific region still faces challenges such as high electricity prices, fragmented regulations, and capital entry barriers, particularly in terms of energy transparency and ESG standards, where there is still a gap compared to Western listed mining companies.

Green Energy Case: Hydropower, Flare Gas and Grid Integration

The "Green Hash" in the Asia-Pacific region is forming a diverse model:

Bhutan: Relying on hydropower, attracting international capital that emphasizes ESG, and creating an environmentally friendly Mining center.

Abu Dhabi: Utilizing torch gas and immersion cooling technology to maintain efficient operation in high-temperature environments.

South Korea: Research shows that monetizing surplus electricity can help power companies reduce debt and lower grid losses, turning Mining into a grid balancing tool.

Australia: Iris Energy combines renewable energy mining with AI computing to expand the synergy between energy load and the digital market.

These cases indicate that mining in the Asia-Pacific is no longer just a competition of computing power, but a testing ground for energy transformation and infrastructure innovation.

Underground Mining in China: Risks of Transparency and Centralization

Despite China issuing a mining ban in 2021, the "Cambridge Digital Mining Report 2025" indicates that China still accounts for over 21% of the global Bitcoin hash rate. Seasonal hydropower in places like Sichuan and decentralized small mining farms continue to operate underground by selling excess electricity through local utility companies.

This "shadow mining" model undermines the transparency of global computing power distribution, making risk assessment more complex. Although Beijing maintains the ban in policy, there are gray areas in actual enforcement, leading international investors to question the true scale of mining activities in China.

Future Outlook: Efficiency, Transparency, and Capital Attractiveness

By 2026, if Asia-Pacific mining companies can balance efficient ASIC upgrades, renewable energy grid integration, and regional reporting standards, they are expected to stand on equal footing with Western mining companies in the capital markets.

However, the risks still exist:

Japan: High electricity prices limit the scale of domestic Mining Farms.

South Korea: Grid integration relies on policy support.

Bhutan and the UAE: Climate change affects hydrology and torch gas supply.

China: Underground activities continue to undermine transparency.

Supply Chain: The production of ASIC mining machines is affected by geopolitical factors and tariffs.

Experts point out that regulatory uncertainty remains the biggest challenge for mining companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Without long-term policy clarity, capital costs will rise, and global investors' willingness to participate will also decline.

Conclusion

The Bitcoin mining in the Asia-Pacific region is at the intersection of energy transformation and regulatory games. On one hand, green energy cases in Bhutan, Abu Dhabi, Australia, and other places demonstrate the potential for sustainable development; on the other hand, China's underground mining activities remind the market that transparency and compliance are still the focal points of global capital. In the future, those who can find a balance between efficiency, transparency, and ESG will stand out in the global computing power competition. For more real-time blockchain industry analysis, please follow the official Gate platform.