Digital Power Network Urges CISA to Designate Bitcoin Mining as Critical Infrastructure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Digital Power Network (DPN), representing over 50% of U.S. Bitcoin mining capacity and the largest coalition of digital infrastructure developers in the country, formally called on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to designate Bitcoin mining operations as critical infrastructure. In a detailed letter sent to Executive Director Bridget Bean, DPN outlined the strategic importance of Bitcoin mining to grid reliability, national energy security, and digital economic resilience.
“Bitcoin miners are no longer niche participants in the energy system, they’re now integral partners in stabilizing the grid, catalyzing energy innovation, and securing decentralized financial infrastructure,” said Hailey Miller, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy at DPN. “We believe this sector has earned recognition as critical infrastructure under federal law.”
The request builds on several pillars:
Grid Resilience: Bitcoin miners can rapidly curtail energy consumption during emergencies, acting as on-demand resources for grid operators. During Texas’s 2022 heat wave, industrial-scale miners voluntarily returned over 1,000 megawatts to the ERCOT grid, helping avert blackouts. Companies like Riot Platforms have received millions in ancillary services revenue for acting as controllable loads.
Energy Security and Renewable Integration: Miners reduce harmful emissions by repurposing flared gas and absorbing stranded or excess renewable energy, improving the economics of new clean energy projects. Federal legislation like the FLARE Act, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz, explicitly recognizes miners as contributors to U.S. grid resilience and emission reductions.
Economic and National Security: Bitcoin mining secures the Bitcoin blockchain, now treated as a strategic asset under the March 2025 Executive Order establishing a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. As the U.S. embraces digital assets for fiscal and geopolitical resilience, protecting the underlying mining infrastructure is essential.
Precedent and Policy Alignment: Just as election systems were added to the critical infrastructure list in 2017, DPN argues that Bitcoin mining meets the criteria for designation under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 and Presidential Policy Directive 21. These operations lie at the intersection of the Energy, Communications, and IT Sectors, all recognized as critical by CISA.
The letter also highlights broad federal and state momentum supporting the sector, including endorsements from Governor Greg Abbott in Texas and pilot programs by Duke Energy to integrate Bitcoin miners into grid demand response systems.
DPN proposes that CISA designate Bitcoin mining either as a formal subsector within the Energy Sector, a covered asset under the IT/Communications Sector, or as a new critical infrastructure category. The benefits of such a designation include enhanced cybersecurity coordination, eligibility for protective programs, and formal integration into national resilience planning.
“Our member companies stand ready to partner with CISA and the Department of Energy to ensure this emerging digital and energy infrastructure is safeguarded from physical, cyber, and operational threats,” said Miller.
About the Digital Power Network (DPN):
DPN is the largest coalition of Bitcoin miners in the United States, representing over 50% of domestic hash rate. Through public policy advocacy, industry coordination, and infrastructure innovation, DPN promotes responsible energy use, national security, and economic growth in the digital asset sector.