A fire broke out at Bitdeer’s under-construction Bitcoin mining and AI cloud facility in Massillon, Ohio, on the afternoon of November 11. The Singapore-based bitcoin mining company confirmed that firefighters responded quickly, extinguishing the fire with no injuries reported. Two of the 26 structures being constructed at the site suffered damage from the blaze; however, no mining equipment was installed, meaning the incident will not impact the company’s current operational hashrate.
In a detailed statement on social media platform X, Bitdeer Chairman Jihan Wu explained that the fire originated during welding activities and rapidly intensified due to strong winds in the area. Wu noted that the company’s senior management team was present to investigate the situation and assess the damage.
The company indicated that transformers at the facility would be examined to determine if they sustained damage. Wu further stated that the damaged buildings would be replaced, although Bitdeer did not provide estimates regarding the repair costs or a timeline for reconstruction.
The Massillon facility represents a significant expansion project for Bitdeer in the United States, with an anticipated capacity of 221 megawatts (MW). As part of this expansion, the company expects to energize 21 MW of the capacity in November, with full operation targeted by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
This fire incident comes on the heels of a notable transaction involving Tether, which sold 20% of its shares in Bitdeer, leading to a 14% drop in the stock price on the same day of the fire.
