Bitcoin mining stocks, specifically those expanding into AI services, are off to a hot start in 2026.
Leading the pack at the time of writing, Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) has surged 30% since the start of 2026. The company recently achieved ready-for-service status at its Polaris Forge 1 campus, fully energizing the first building, which marks the completion of the first of three contracted facilities. This milestone is the first phase of the 400 MW AI campus.
Hut 8’s (NASDAQ: HUT) stock performance has followed closely behind with a 26% year-to-date return as it pursues expansion in the midwest. The company is seeking zoning approval on Thursday for a potential $5 billion data center project in Illinois.
Bitfarms (NASDAQ: BITF) has recorded a 23% gain so far in 2026 while restructuring its portfolio for artificial intelligence workloads. The company agreed on January 2 to sell its Paso Pe Bitcoin bitcoin mine for $30 million. Bitfarms intends to redirect resources toward high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.
Hive (NASDAQ: HIVE) is up 22% year-to-date. Management outlined plans on Wednesday to convert its New Brunswick facility to support co-located AI workloads.
Other sector peers posted double-digit gains to start the year. IREN (NASDAQ: IREN) climbed 21%, while Riot (NASDAQ: RIOT) and Cleanspark (NASDAQ: CLSK) rose 19% and 18% respectively.
Bitcoin traded at $90,657.08 at the time of the report. The cryptocurrency has risen 3.63% year-to-date.
Header image by Nicholas Cappello via Unsplash.