NASDAQ: IREN
Key Data Points
Iren (IREN +9.34%), a vertically integrated data center operator previously specializing in Bitcoin (BTC +0.60%) mining, closed Monday at $50.33, up 9.34% on the day. Iren IPO'd in 2021 and has grown 106% since going public. Trading volume reached 52 million shares, coming in about 37% above versus its three-month average of 37.8 million shares.
Monday's trading is reflecting renewed interest in crypto-exposed AI infrastructure plays, with investors watching Iren's Microsoft (MSFT 0.44%) AI contract and pivot toward high-performance computing.
How the markets moved today
The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.16%) added 0.15% to finish at 6,977, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.26%) climbed 0.26% to 23,734. Within capital markets industry names, peers Mara Holdings (MARA +4.21%) and Riot Platforms (RIOT +7.38%) gained 4.21% and 7.38%, respectively, as traders track Bitcoin levels and the evolving role of miners in AI and data-center growth.
What this means for investors
Iren initially began as a Bitcoin mining company, utilizing data centers full of servers. With the surge in demand for compute capacity from the rise in AI, the company has pivoted its focus to high-performance AI computing. The consistent revenue generated from the crypto mining operations is helping Iren to transition more rapidly, supplying the necessary resources to develop and maintain a fully integrated AI cloud complex.
Today's move comes after Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani named Iren his "top AI pick" for 2026 on Friday. A nearly $10 billion AI cloud contract with Microsoft is a core reason.
Iren continues to raise capital to grow its compute capacity, so more deals could be in its future.
