China nuclear buildout targets AI and crypto demand

• China operates 60 nuclear reactors and has 36 more under construction, representing nearly half of global nuclear projects.
• Growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence and Bitcoin mining is increasing interest in stable power sources.
• China aims to expand nuclear capacity to 110 gigawatts by 2030 as technology and energy infrastructure become more closely linked.

China has expanded its nuclear power programme to 60 operating reactors generating 58.7 gigawatts of capacity, while another 36 reactors remain under construction, accounting for more than 49% of global nuclear projects currently being built.

The expansion contrasts with the United States, which still produces more nuclear electricity at approximately 823 terawatt-hours annually compared with China's 451 terawatt-hours, but has faced slower growth due to project delays and rising construction costs.

China has nearly doubled its nuclear generating capacity since 2016 and is targeting 110 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2030 to support long-term energy demand.

The growth comes as energy-intensive industries including Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) mining and artificial intelligence data centres seek reliable sources of continuous electricity, with nuclear power providing stable generation that is not dependent on weather conditions.

Several cryptocurrency mining operators in the United States have already explored partnerships with nuclear energy providers through co-location agreements and long-term power contracts, while technology companies continue expanding electricity requirements for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

China's nuclear strategy could provide additional low-carbon electricity for future technology development, including blockchain-related applications that regulators choose to permit within the country.

The broader convergence of energy and digital infrastructure has also led to blockchain-based projects such as USNS, a token launched in May 2026 that aims to use distributed ledger technology to improve transparency across nuclear supply chains and uranium reserve data.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $62,648.34.