TL;DR
- A fire destroyed two buildings at Bitdeer’s under-construction Bitcoin mining site in Massillon, Ohio, caused by welding operations amid strong winds.
- No injuries were reported, and mining equipment had not yet been installed, minimizing operational impact.
- The incident may delay the company’s North American expansion plans but does not affect existing operations at other facilities.
A fire recently damaged two buildings at Bitdeer’s under-construction Bitcoin mining complex in Massillon, Ohio. The blaze, caused during welding operations and intensified by strong winds, affected structures before any mining equipment had been installed. Bitdeer’s CEO Jihan Wu confirmed the incident on X, stating that two out of 26 planned buildings were destroyed, but no personnel were injured. He added that senior management is on-site investigating the full extent of the damage. Local fire authorities responded quickly, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby areas.
Construction Accident Could Affect Expansion Timeline
Although the operational impact on current mining output is minimal, the destroyed buildings will need to be rebuilt, potentially delaying the installation of thousands of ASIC mining machines planned for the site. Wu noted that transformers may require inspection, and a full assessment is ongoing. Bitdeer’s Massillon facility is a critical step in expanding its North American footprint, expected to deliver over 200 megawatts of computing power once fully operational. Engineers and contractors are reviewing building codes and safety protocols to avoid similar incidents during ongoing construction.
North American Growth And Industry Context
Bitdeer has aggressively expanded into the U.S., with operations in Texas and international sites in Norway and Bhutan. The Ohio site was part of a broader strategy to scale its Bitcoin mining capacity, which the company reportedly quadrupled amid declining global demand for mining hardware. The incident highlights the operational and physical risks associated with constructing large-scale mining data centers, especially as miners invest in new infrastructure ahead of the next Bitcoin halving cycle.
The company’s insurance and safety teams are conducting a detailed inspection, with a revised operational timeline expected once assessments are complete. Industry analysts note that similar construction hazards have occurred at other large-scale crypto mining facilities, emphasizing the need for strict oversight.
While the fire at Bitdeer’s Ohio facility caused structural damage, the absence of injuries and the lack of installed mining equipment have limited immediate operational disruption. The company continues its expansion strategy in North America, and the incident is unlikely to derail its long-term plans, though it may affect short-term project timelines.
