AI contracts, not bitcoin, now drive miner valuations, and Cipher and TeraWulf look cheap

Markets AI contracts, not bitcoin, now drive miner valuations, and Cipher and TeraWulf look cheap Compass Point analysts Michael Donovan and Ed Engel said markets are giving little credit to future AI data center pipelines despite billions of dollars in signed leases. By Helene Braun | Edited by Stephen Alpher Jul 9, 2026, 3:53 p.m. 3 min read Make preferred on Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Make preferred on (Getty Images) Summary Show Compass Point says Applied Digital, TeraWulf and Cipher Mining are trading below the value of their signed AI data center contracts. The firm argued investors should value AI infrastructure companies based on contracted rental income rather than bitcoin mining economics. Analysts expect project completions and rent commencements over the next two years to become the main drivers of stock performance. Several companies transforming former bitcoin mining sites into AI data centers may be worth more than their current market valuations imply because investors are underestimating the value of their signed customer contracts, according to a report from Compass Point. Analysts Michael Donovan and Ed Engel developed a framework that separates the value of long-term AI leases already under contract from projects that have yet to secure customers. They argue these companies should increasingly be valued like landlords that generate rental income rather than traditional bitcoin miners whose earnings depend on cryptocurrency prices. To do that, Compass Point estimates the value of future rental income from signed contracts after accounting for the remaining cost of building each facility. It then compares that figure with each company's enterprise value to estimate how much, if any, investors are paying for future development projects. Using that approach, the firm said Applied Digital (APLD), TeraWulf (WULF) and Cipher Mining (CIFR) appear to offer the largest disconnect between their contracted business and current valuations. In each case, Compass Point argues the market is assigning little, if any, value to additional AI capacity that has yet to be leased, despite the potential for those projects to generate significant rental income once completed. Core Scientific (CORZ) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) stand out for different reasons. Compass Point said Core Scientific's existing contracts are already largely reflected in its valuation, meaning further upside will likely depend on signing new customers. Riot, meanwhile, is valued more on future potential than current lease income, with investors placing a premium on its Corsicana campus and broader AI development pipeline despite its relatively limited contracted capacity today. The report argues the next two years will be a turning point for the sector as companies shift from announcing AI infrastructure deals to delivering them. As projects are completed, tenants move in and rent payments begin, investors will have a clearer picture of the recurring cash flow these facilities can generate. Companies that execute successfully could be rewarded with valuations more in line with other income-producing infrastructure assets. The sector has already become one of the market's strongest AI-related trades. Over the past year, shares of several former bitcoin miners have climbed sharply as they unveiled partnerships with hyperscalers and AI companies looking for large amounts of power and computing capacity. Still, returns have varied as investors weighed construction timelines, financing requirements and the pace of customer signings. The broader shift reflects how many mining companies are repurposing sites with abundant power and existing electrical infrastructure for AI and high-performance computing workloads. Unlike bitcoin mining, where revenue can swing with cryptocurrency prices, long-term leases with investment-grade customers offer the prospect of steadier, more predictable cash flow. Following recent pullbacks in the group, Compass Point said the market may be entering a new phase where execution matters more than announcements. As facilities come online and signed contracts begin producing revenue, the firm expects investors to focus less on future potential and more on the cash flow those projects deliver. Latest Crypto News 1 Ethereum's newest nonprofit wants to become Wall Street's guide to crypto 55 minutes ago 2 Aave rolls out vaults for yield-hungry fintech investors 2 hours ago 3 Age verification is the surveillance nobody voted for 2 hours ago 4 Over $7.2 billion have migrated from LayerZero to Chainlink CCIP as Mantle joins exodus 3 hours ago 5 Pricing houses in bitcoin exposes dollar's loss of value 4 hours ago 6 Swift rolls out new blockchain ledger to bring 24/7 banking to 17 global giants 4 hours ago 7 Latin America’s biggest stock exchange now offers options on bitcoin, ether and solana futures 4 hours ago 8 Crypto for Advisors: Q2 2026 Digital Asset Review 5 hours ago 9 Crypto remains resilient in face of renewed Middle East tensions 5 hours ago 10 Singapore's Temasek investment fund says crypto is off the table, will focus on AI 5 hours ago Latest Research SpaceX IPO Drives Tokenized Equity Volumes to Record as Stablecoin Market Cap Falls SpaceX IPO Drives Tokenized Equity Volumes to Record as Stablecoin Market Cap Falls Stablecoin market cap fell to $312B in June, its largest monthly drop since TerraUSD, while tokenized equity volumes surged 145% to a record $3.86B. By CoinDesk Research Jul 7, 2026 Stablecoin market cap fell to $312B in June, its largest monthly drop since TerraUSD, while tokenized equity volumes surged 145% to a record $3.86B. Why it matters : Stablecoin market cap fell to $312B in June, its largest monthly drop since TerraUSD, while tokenized equity volumes surged 145% to a record $3.86B. View Full Report More From Markets Crypto remains resilient in face of renewed Middle East tensions Crypto trader applies legendary HODL strategy to EUR/USD forex bet Two blockbuster AI IPO's on the horizon could leave crypto further behind