# This Esports Giant Is Quietly Building a Bitcoin Empire w/ Carl Agren

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hashrateup-a-bitcoin-mining-podcast-6575766/this-esports-giant-is-quietly-building-a-bitcoin-empire-w-carl-agren
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hashrateup-a-bitcoin-mining-podcast-6575766/this-esports-giant-is-quietly-building-a-bitcoin-empire-w-carl-agren.md
Podcast: [HashrateUp - A Bitcoin Mining Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/hashrateup-a-bitcoin-mining-podcast-6575766)
Published: 2026-05-01T14:24:15+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ben-raich8/episodes/This-Esports-Giant-Is-Quietly-Building-a-Bitcoin-Empire-w-Carl-Agren-e3inrf4
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/111cf6d4c/podcast/play/119319460/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-4-1%2F423244176-44100-2-e99aca2d25bc8.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1821

## Resource

🔗 Carl Agren: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-agren-6921068/ 🔗 NIP Group: Website: https://miningninjas.com Investor Relations: https://nipg.com In this episode of HashrateUp, Jesse sits down with Carl Agren, CEO of Mining and Digital Assets at NIP Group, to explore how one of the world's most iconic esports brands quietly built 11.3 EH/s of Bitcoin mining across multiple global jurisdictions. Carl breaks down the deal structure behind NIP's mining buildout, why the company is staying focused on Bitcoin rather than chasing the AI data center hype, and what makes the AI pivot so dangerous for public miners who don't understand liquidated damages. He also shares his outlook on hash price, why he models NIP's strategy after CleanSpark, and where the company is hunting for stranded energy opportunities next. 0:00 Intro: From Counter-Strike fan to interviewing NIP's mining CEO 1:00 How NIP went from esports to 11.3 EH/s of Bitcoin mining 3:45 Carl's background: co-founding G42 and the Phoenix Group IPO in Abu Dhabi 4:31 The AI pivot debate: why NIP is staying selective and not jumping on the bandwagon 7:43 AI power demand: 400 GW needed for AGI, data center cancellations, community pushback 13:45 Why long-term Bitcoin mining thinking is nearly impossible for public companies 15:40 NIP's current strategy: lean operations, energy arbitrage, stranded power opportunities 18:00 Hash price outlook, the rainbow curve, and Bitcoin by end of 2026 26:49 Rapid fire: BTC price, CleanSpark, hydro vs immersion, HODL vs yield 🛠 Sponsored by: SoloMining – Home & solo mining made easy Code: HASHRATEUP https://solomining.de Altair Technology – Buy Bitcoin Min

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