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 produces a residue called bagasse, which can be burned to generate 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.
Brazil’s affordable renewable energy is attracting more miners, who see the country as a good place for energy-intensive operations. Tether said it is using its recent purchase of Adecoagro to access renewable energy, like electricity from sugarcane mills, to run a bitcoin mining operation in Brazil. This shows a focus on using local clean energy instead of 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 site in Brazil. 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 is now more involved in the project than just providing software and branding, as it controls most of Adecoagro. In April 2025, Tether announced it had acquired a 70% controlling stake in Adecoagro S.A. and said the deal was part of its plan to expand 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.”
The sugarcane-powered mine in Brazil could become an important example of how large energy producers might use excess renewable power to help secure the Bitcoin network and generate new income.
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