Meta and Microsoft plan to significantly increase AI spending in 2026, Bitcoin mining companies may benefit

According to CoinDesk, Meta and Microsoft released their fourth-quarter results and outlook for 2026, with both companies making AI investments a core part of their growth strategy this year and in the future. Bitcoin mining companies that have transformed into AI infrastructure may benefit.

Meta expects its capital expenditures in 2026 to be between $115 billion and $135 billion, higher than the market's general expectation of $110 billion. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Microsoft's AI business has surpassed some of its core businesses.

Reports indicate that several mining companies have shifted their data centers to host AI and cloud computing machines. Among them, Iren (formerly Iris Energy) has signed a multi-year cloud services contract with Microsoft, while Cipher Mining (CIFR) has signed an agreement with Amazon to provide 300 megawatts of power capacity for AWS. Additionally, companies like Hut 8 (HUT) are also accelerating their transformation.

As a result, Iren's stock price rose 4.9% on Wednesday, with a cumulative increase of 47% since 2026, and Cipher Mining has increased by 17% year-to-date.