How IREN is Building an AI Powerhouse on a Bitcoin Foundation

A dramatic surge in a stock's value often signals a profound shift in its underlying business. For IREN Limited (NASDAQ: IREN) (formerly known as Iris Energy Limited), the story is no different. With a year-to-date gain of over 380%, the company has captured the market's attention, but the reasons extend far beyond the fluctuating price of Bitcoin.

Investors are witnessing a calculated transformation as IREN leverages its industrial-scale infrastructure to pivot aggressively into the booming artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The market is beginning to recognize that IREN is no longer just a cryptocurrency miner; it is rapidly evolving into a diversified technology company and a critical supplier of the high-performance computing power that fuels the AI revolution.

IREN Goes All-In on AI Compute

The primary catalyst for this re-evaluation was a landmark announcement made on September 22, 2025. IREN intended to double its AI Cloud fleet to approximately 23,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) through a $674 million procurement. 

This goes far beyond an incremental upgrade, creating a strategic leap into the heart of the AI hardware ecosystem. The order includes a powerful mix of next-generation chips, most notably NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ: NVDA) highly sought-after Blackwell series GPUs, placing IREN at the forefront of the technology curve.

The company's hardware investment translates into an ambitious financial goal for investors: achieving over $500 million in annualized run-rate revenue (ARR) from its AI Cloud business by the first quarter of 2026. This initiative creates a significant revenue stream independent of Bitcoin mining, prompting a re-evaluation of the company by Wall Street.

This strategic direction has garnered powerful endorsements. Arete Research initiated coverage on IREN with a Buy rating and a bullish $78.00 price target, mainly due to this expansion. Such a valuation reflects the company's emerging status as a leading provider of high-growth AI infrastructure. Further bolstering its position, IREN has secured NVIDIA Preferred Partner status, a crucial industry validation that demonstrates its technical expertise and strengthens its supply chain access.

Built on Bitcoin, Aimed at AI

IREN's ability to execute such an ambitious pivot is built upon a powerful two-pillar foundation that gives it a distinct competitive advantage.

First is its profitable Bitcoin mining operation, which acts as a continual financial engine. In its fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, IREN reported record results, including a 168% increase in total revenue to $501 million and a dramatic swing to a net income of $86.9 million from a loss in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA soared 395% to $269.7 million, showcasing immense operational leverage. This established business generates a significant cash flow and a strong balance sheet, including $564.5 million in cash, which is needed to fund the AI expansion

. This move is further supported by non-dilutive financing for its GPU hardware. This financial stability mitigates risk, allowing the company to invest confidently in its future.

The second, and perhaps more critical, pillar is its infrastructure moat. IREN is a vertically integrated company, meaning it owns and operates its entire technology stack, from high-voltage power contracts and land to purpose-built data center buildings.

This model offers several key advantages over competitors who often lease space in third-party facilities:

• Superior Cost Control: By avoiding expensive colocation fees, IREN can achieve higher profit margins on its AI cloud services.
• Speed and Flexibility: Full control over its properties enables rapid construction and customized designs, engineered for the extreme power and cooling needs of modern AI hardware.
• Operational Excellence: Direct management of the environment ensures the high uptime and reliability that AI clients demand.

This long-term strategy is visible in its development pipeline. Projects like the Horizon liquid-cooled data centers in Texas and the massive 2-gigawatt Sweetwater hub are not just expanding capacity; they are creating one of the largest purpose-built AI infrastructure platforms in North America, with the potential to house hundreds of thousands of next-generation GPUs.

IREN Evolves from Bitcoin Miner to AI Powerhouse

IREN has successfully engineered a compelling new chapter, evolving its business to offer investors a unique, dual exposure to two of the most significant technology trends of our time: the digital asset economy and the exponential growth of artificial intelligence.

With a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 79.90, the market clearly anticipates high future growth, a sentiment echoed by bullish analyst targets. 

The company has built a durable and defensible foundation to attack the AI market by leveraging its proven expertise in operating power-intensive data centers for Bitcoin mining.

A clear strategic vision, tangible operational momentum, and a strong financial base have captured the market's attention.

While the successful execution of its ambitious roadmap remains key, IREN has laid out a credible and influential blueprint for transforming from a specialized miner into a formidable AI powerhouse.

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The article "How IREN is Building an AI Powerhouse on a Bitcoin Foundation" first appeared on MarketBeat.