Despite being under U.S. Treasury Department sanctions, BitRiver-B, a subsidiary of BitRiver Group, plans to launch Russia’s largest data center for artificial intelligence (AI) in the second half of 2024, as per local news sources.
The data center, with an expected capacity of 100 megawatts, will focus on high-performance energy-intensive computations, including Bitcoin mining, cloud services, and AI operations.
Sergey Bezdelov, director of the Association of Industrial Mining, highlighted the potential growth of energy-intensive computing in Russia, especially with the increasing adoption of AI. He projected that by 2035, the sector could demand several tens of gigawatts.
BitRiver, a Bitcoin mining company, was added to the U.S. sanctions list in April 2022, along with its subsidiaries, for operating in the Russian technology sector.
The U.S. Treasury Department stated that crypto mining companies, like BitRiver, help Russia monetize its natural resources, leveraging its energy resources and cold climate for a comparative advantage in crypto mining.
Despite these sanctions, BitRiver is determined to complete its investment project in Russia, aiming to contribute to the country’s growing demand for high-performance computing.
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