Tether-backed Adecoagro plans to turn sugarcane waste into energy for Bitcoin mining in Brazil as it builds a new renewable-powered mining site. Because Tether now owns a 70% stake in Adecoagro, the stablecoin issuer will sit at the center of this project.
Sugarcane Residue Powers New Bitcoin Mine
Adecoagro is a South American agribusiness and energy company that operates big sugar, ethanol and power plants. It creates a residue of sugarcane called bagasse, which burns to create sustainable energy.
Now the company plans to use some of this excess power to mine Bitcoin in Brazil. It will use sustainable energy from its sugar mills. Adecoagro and Tether said in a joint statement that they will “power Bitcoin mining with renewable energy in Brazil.” The partners aim to link digital currencies, energy production, and agricultural waste.
Because Brazil’s grid has more low-cost renewable power, miners increasingly see the country as a destination for energy-heavy operations. Tether said it is “leveraging its recent acquisition of Adecoagro to tap its renewable energy, such as the electricity coming from sugarcane mills, to power a bitcoin mining operation in Brazil,” highlighting a focus on local clean energy over fossil fuels.
10 MW Pilot Set for July 2026
Around July 1, 2026, Adecoagro will begin the initial phase of mining operations after preparing the Brazilian site. Its first goal is to use 10 megawatts of renewable energy to run specialized mining equipment.
Adecoagro intends to deploy about 1,280 Bitcoin mining machines in this initial phase. Most will likely be modern ASIC rigs built for energy efficiency. The 10 megawatt pilot project uses only a small portion of Adecoagro’s total power generation potential. That potential is over 230 megawatts of renewable capacity across South America.
Tether’s role in the project extends beyond software and branding, since it now controls most of Adecoagro. In April 2025, Tether announced “the successful acquisition of a 70% controlling stake in Adecoagro S.A.,” and it described the deal as part of a “strategic expansion into sustainable infrastructure.”
Executives at Adecoagro and Tether said the mining collaboration “will explore how renewable energy assets can be leveraged to support the digital economy, unlocking new efficiencies at the intersection of energy and technology.” As a result, the sugarcane-powered mine in Brazil may act as a key test for how large energy producers can use extra renewable power to secure the Bitcoin network while creating a new revenue stream
READ MORE: Solana Price Caves Below $80 Support, Exposing More Downside
