Alcoa is in advanced talks to sell its dormant Massena East smelter site in upstate New York to New York Digital Investment Group, according CEO Bill Oplinger. Chief Executive Officer Bill Oplinger indicated that the transaction is expected to close in the middle of the year as the company continues efforts to divest unused industrial properties.
The Massena East facility spans roughly 1,300 acres along the St. Lawrence River and has remained inactive since 2014 due to high operating costs and increasing global competition in aluminum production. The site benefits from access to large-scale hydropower through regional energy infrastructure, making it attractive for energy-intensive operations such as data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
NYDIG Expands Mining Strategy Through Strategic Infrastructure Investments
The proposed purchase would strengthen NYDIG’s presence at the location, where mining activity has already been underway through a partnership with Coinmint. NYDIG previously acquired a strategic stake in Coinmint in October 2024, securing long-term operational access under an existing lease agreement.
Industry trends show former industrial sites increasingly being repurposed for digital infrastructure. Similar redevelopment projects have emerged across the United States, where aging smelters are being converted into facilities capable of supporting cryptocurrency mining, artificial intelligence workloads and high-performance computing systems.
Shift Toward Digital Infrastructure Reflects Changing Energy Economics
The expected sale reflects a broader transformation in the energy and manufacturing landscape, as companies seek to monetize idle facilities with strong grid connectivity. While several mining firms are shifting power resources toward artificial intelligence and computing services, NYDIG has continued expanding its Bitcoin mining capacity through acquisitions and infrastructure development.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.