AI Data Centers Demand to Surge 220% by 2030, Forecasts Goldman Sachs

Meanwhile, the United States is expected to account for 60% of this growth, up from 50% in prior estimates, reaching approximately 750 TWh. In comparison, US data center capacity is projected to surge 197% to a record 95 gigawatts.

Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Tighten Global Energy Supply

The blockage cut off roughly 20% of global oil supply and a similar share of LNG exports, mainly from Qatar. Strikes on Qatars Ras Laffan LNG complex and other Gulf infrastructure worsened shortages, pushing Qatari LNG offline and tightening global supply. Oil prices surged, with Brent briefly trading between $100 and $120 per barrel amid physical scarcity.

These geopolitical constraints have amplified the surge in demand, driving higher industrial electricity prices worldwide. US wholesale power prices are projected to rise 8.5% in 2026 as data centers and large consumers compete for limited grid capacity, putting sustained upward pressure on energy costs.

Whats The Impact on Bitcoin Mining？

BTC mining, which consumes roughly 100–195 TWh annually, now faces intensified competition for power from surging AI data centers. AI hyperscalers outbid miners for low-cost contracts, squeezing margins as mining revenue per kWh remains far below that of AI workloads.

Rising power competition between BTC miners and data centers tightens profitability in the short term and increases potential BTC selling pressure from stressed miners. Miners compete directly with data centers for low-cost electricity, which could raise operating expenses, trigger curtailments in high-cost regions, and force some operators to reassess their infrastructure strategies.

Over the long term, persistent energy constraints could support the development of decentralized infrastructure solutions. Emerging models such as DePIN networks and distributed compute platforms may offer more flexible alternatives, while on-chain energy markets and miner-integrated systems continue to evolve as potential responses to global power challenges.