Fortitude Powers Up 12 MW Zcash Mining Hub in Nebraska, Slashes Costs by 43%

Fortitude, a Digital Currency Group-backed cryptocurrency mining firm, has activated a 12-megawatt Zcash mining facility in Grand Island, Nebraska, marking the company's first purpose-built greenfield data center. The strategic launch, completed today, cuts operational costs by 43% and boosts total owned power capacity to over 60 megawatts across seven locations—underscoring a bullish expansion in the U.S. mining sector. The facility's cost efficiencies and public listing plans signal strong institutional confidence in proof-of-work assets.

Cost savings and strategic positioning

With the addition of the Grand Island facility, Fortitude expects to significantly reduce its direct cash expenses for mining Zcash. The company projects a decrease in mining costs from approximately $70 per Zcash coin to around $40 per coin, citing lower electricity rates and the use of next-generation hardware as key drivers of these savings.

Fortitude stated that power for the facility will be purchased at roughly $0.045 per kilowatt-hour. The data center is strategically positioned between two solar energy generation sites and located next to a substation with surplus capacity, enabling it to serve as an interruptible energy load. This flexible setup allows Fortitude to reduce its energy consumption during peak demand periods, optimizing efficiency and supporting the wider energy grid.

Mini dictionary: Greenfield data center, a purpose-built facility constructed from the ground up in a previously undeveloped location, allowing for greater efficiency and customization compared to retrofitting existing buildings.

Public listing and investment plans

The launch follows Fortitude’s planned business combination with HeartSciences, a medical technology firm listed on Nasdaq. Should the merger proceed, it will result in Fortitude becoming a publicly traded company. Fortitude intends to reinvest mining proceeds into further infrastructure expansion and upgrading equipment as part of its growth strategy.

Fortitude originally started in January 2025 as an offshoot of Digital Currency Group’s mining division, operating under Foundry. The company mines Bitcoin and other proof-of-work cryptocurrencies, following a venture mining strategy which emphasizes vertical integration and direct control over operations and assets.

Mini dictionary: Digital Currency Group, a venture capital company focused on the digital currency and blockchain technology sector, owning several crypto-related businesses including Foundry and Grayscale.

Leadership outlook and market context

CEO Andrea Childs described Fortitude’s strategy as “owned-and-operated,” emphasizing that control over their sites distinguishes their position in the mining sector. She explained, “Owning the asset rather than leasing capacity from someone whose incentives run opposite to ours is intended to give us a degree of flexibility that we believe few operators have.”

In her view, while Bitcoin mining has reached a mature, highly competitive phase, Zcash is still at a much earlier stage. Fortitude believes its vertically integrated structure and experience mining Zcash aligns it to benefit as Zcash gains importance in the evolving financial landscape.

The facility’s design as an interruptible grid resource aims to support stability in the local electricity network, while minimizing its environmental impact on the Grand Island area. City officials highlighted that the mine’s flexibility allows it to operate in harmony with community needs and infrastructure limitations.

The move comes at a time when cryptocurrency miners are under increased pressure to source affordable electricity, due to heightened demand from both digital asset mines and AI-focused data centers. Rapid competition for energy sources has led many mining firms to explore innovative solutions and direct ownership of infrastructure, as seen in Fortitude’s latest approach.

Childs noted that despite rising competition for power, developing and owning company-controlled sites enables Fortitude to directly manage power costs, rather than being subject to decisions by third-party suppliers.