Alcoa is nearing a deal to sell its dormant Massena East smelter in New York to NYDIG, signalling a shift toward digital infrastructure use.
The facility, inactive since 2014 due to high energy costs, is expected to be repurposed for Bitcoin mining or data centre operations, leveraging existing grid connections and industrial-scale power capacity.
The site’s access to hydropower from the New York Power Authority makes it particularly attractive for energy-intensive computing, including crypto mining and AI workloads.
The potential sale reflects a broader trend of converting legacy industrial assets into digital infrastructure, as seen in Century Aluminum’s $200 million sale of its Kentucky smelter for AI-focused redevelopment.
NYDIG has been expanding its presence in Bitcoin mining, including stakes in existing operations and recent acquisitions tied to energy-efficient infrastructure.
At the same time, mining firms are increasingly diversifying into AI and cloud computing as profitability pressures reshape the industry.
The deal highlights how traditional industrial sites are being revalued as strategic assets in the growing digital and energy-intensive computing economy.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $74,450.99.