Inside France’s strict rules for selling majority stake of its state energy cloud to U.S. bitcoin miner

France has approved the sale of a majority stake in a key data center unit of state-owned Electricité de France to U.S.-based bitcoin miner MARA Holdings. The deal concludes a lengthy national security review, highlighting the delicate balance between foreign investment and strategic control over critical digital infrastructure.

MARA is acquiring a 64% stake in Exaion, a subsidiary operating high-performance computing infrastructure. The transaction is valued at $168 million. The move signals a significant expansion for the mining firm into European energy and data center markets.

The arrangement includes strict conditions imposed by the French government. To address sovereignty concerns, investment firm NJJ Capital, controlled by billionaire Xavier Niel, will take a 10% stake in the local acquisition entity. EDF will retain a minority share and remain an Exaion client.

Finance Minister Roland Lescure stated the outcome shows France is open to international investment while defending its strategic interests. The government emphasized protecting technological sovereignty, especially for assets linked to national energy grids.

This transaction occurs amid heightened global focus on **blockchain security** and infrastructure resilience. Operating critical data centers requires robust **cybersecurity** measures to prevent potential **data breach** incidents or service disruptions.

The energy-intensive nature of crypto mining integrates with these high-performance computing facilities. Experts note that such infrastructure must be guarded against threats like **ransomware** and **malware** that could target operational technology. Proactive defense is essential to mitigate any **vulnerability**.

Furthermore, the sector remains vigilant against social engineering attacks, such as **phishing**, which often serve as an initial entry point for more sophisticated intrusions. The discovery of a **zero-day** **exploit** in related software could pose a significant risk, making constant monitoring imperative.

The French government's conditional approval sets a precedent for future foreign investments in state-linked tech assets. It underscores a framework where economic activity in the **crypto** space must align with stringent national security and infrastructure protection standards.