The "Energy Consumption Truth" of Bitcoin Mining Farms has been exposed by satellite thermal imaging.

Satellite thermal imaging has revealed the true power load of the Riot 700 megawatt Mining Farm, allowing investors to use a “space perspective” to examine the energy costs and operational status of computing power companies. (Previous summary: Breaking! The U.S. SEC classifies Bitcoin mining under the Securities Act, suing the mining company VBit for defrauding $95.6 million) (Background Information: The seven major financial industry associations in China jointly warned: Cryptocurrency, RWA, and Mining are all illegal! Overseas platforms providing services also cross the red line.)

Since the arrival of Bitcoin mining companies in Rockdale, Texas, residents have been continuously complaining about the noise disrupting their lives. From 500 kilometers in the sky, the British startup space analysis company SatVu has released thermal imaging via the HotSat-1 satellite, showing that Riot Platforms' facility is continuously emitting heat at a power of 700 megawatts.

This set of images released in December 2025 announces that ESG reports are no longer the only source of information for investors, as “space due diligence” officially makes its debut.

3.5 meter resolution, allowing for a clear view of the cooler.

According to Sustainable Business Magazine, SatVu's thermal imaging accuracy reaches 3.5 meters, capable of distinguishing the operational differences between rooftop coolers, transformers, and substations. The images show that heat is highly concentrated in specific units, proving that the Mining Farm consumes power in nearly full load mode; if the official claims “some racks are under maintenance” yet high temperatures are presented, the data will immediately contradict that. A factory building measuring 700×400 meters of reinforced concrete appears like transparent glass under thermal analysis, revealing even which pipelines are dissipating heat.

Discussing how much “leakage” of energy is meaningless, but it is very significant for capital. Riot's predecessor was a metal smelting factory, which used to produce aluminum through heat discharge, and today it has transformed that into hash values on the blockchain (and AI computing). For the capital market, the heat map is Alpha; if the thermal image shows that the cooler is too cold, it indicates that production capacity is not fully utilized, and a short signal is instantly established.

Under the deregulation policy of the Trump administration, the federal government does not strongly promote a carbon tax but emphasizes grid resilience. SatVu technology precisely addresses the demand in ERCOT, allowing regulators to estimate instantaneous loads without waiting for corporate reports. This “God's view” also forces out counter-strategies, with some illegal miners attempting to cover machine cabinets with cement, change the direction of heat dissipation, and reduce the brightness of “hot spots,” making heat leakage military-grade.

7 trillion dollars of the transparent electricity era

McKinsey estimates that by 2030, global data center investment will exceed 7 trillion dollars.

SatVu indicates:

The objective and real-time data we provide allows investors and regulatory bodies to see through walls and understand the true operational activities within the facilities.

HotSat-2 is expected to launch in 2026, with higher frequencies and broader bands. Once all-weather monitoring becomes the norm, Mining Farms, AI data centers, and oil and gas fields can no longer rely solely on PDF annual reports to tell their stories. On-chain data reveals the flow of funds, while infrared technology uncovers physical costs. Whether from Kaohsiung to Wall Street, investors only need to purchase thermal analysis maps to assess the operations of data centers.