Bitcoin mining company MARA Holdings announced it will acquire Long Ridge Energy & Power from FTAI Infrastructure for $1.5 billion (including debt assumption), with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2026. This move is a key step in MARA's strategic transformation from a Bitcoin mining giant into a digital infrastructure and energy company. Long Ridge's core assets include a 505-megawatt combined cycle natural gas power plant and over 1,600 acres of contiguous land in Ohio. MARA plans to build a large data center powered by its own power plant on the site, prioritizing AI and high-performance computing (HPC) computing power needs, strengthening its energy supply autonomy, and reducing computing power costs. Upon completion of this acquisition, MARA will enhance its self-owned power capacity and AI computing power deployment potential, becoming a crucial foothold for entering the rapidly growing AI infrastructure sector. (Reuters)