As of April 2026, the Bitcoin mining sector faces a severe hardware crunch as record-breaking prices drive demand while top foundries prioritize high-margin AI chips, creating a structural silicon shortage. Rising mining difficulty and increased hardware costs are compressing margins, forcing a pivot toward AI infrastructure and energy-efficient operations. For more details on the industry's evolution, see reports from KuCoin . Three Companies Set To Dominate 2026 Profits In AI Chips