CoinDesk Podcast Network Blockspace: Hut 8 AI Update, Crypto-Backed Mortgages, MARA Sells $1.1B BTC
Mar 28, 2026
Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8, leading AI data center builds like Riverbend. Matt Williams, Head of Financial Services at Luxor, focused on energy products and GPU/ASIC financing. Ken Egan, Head of Government Affairs at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, advising on crypto legislation. They discuss Hut 8’s AI expansion, CLARITY Act stablecoin rulemaking, Luxor’s AI energy and financing offerings, and Marathon’s $1.1B BTC sale.
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Non‑Margin Callable Crypto Loans Let Holders Keep Coins
- Non‑margin callable loans let Bitcoin holders fund home purchases while keeping coins; lenders price that privilege with higher interest and overcollateralization.
- Matt Kimmel compares this to long-duration commercial loans using Bitcoin as appreciating collateral.
Watch Riverbend Milestones Before Allocating Capital
- Track milestone timing for Hut 8's Riverbend build: first data halls expected late Q1/early Q2 next year with staged rollouts through the year.
- Asher Genoot says Entergy's switch yard and substation work are progressing at record speed and equipment is moving forward.
Local Pushback Centers On Energy And Water Not Just AI Hype
- Community concerns around data center energy and water drive zoning scrutiny; Hut 8 emphasizes paying for transmission upgrades and using closed‑loop chillers to reduce water use.
- Asher says education and backstopping supplier rates help communities accept projects.