William Roberts

Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Iren

Search every verified William Roberts interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. William Roberts, co-founder and co-CEO of IREN, discussed the role of Bitcoin mining in the energy sector during a May 2024 panel. He stated that the company was established partly to support the expansion of renewable energy, noting that while there has been significant growth in renewable generation, its intermittent nature creates opportunities for flexible energy consumers like Bitcoin miners. Roberts described IREN's operations as a "flexible load" that can tap into renewable energy, citing one of the company's sites as an example. Roberts also addressed the relationship between Bitcoin miners and renewable energy projects, suggesting that in the near term, these sectors may remain separate due to differing capital costs and investor mandates. He expressed optimism about miners acting as "differentiated buyers" of energy assets that may be undervalued in poor revenue environments, potentially generating stronger returns from otherwise distressed assets.