NVIDIA is exploring massive financial backing for OpenAI's Stargate mega-data center project, potentially representing the industry's largest single AI infrastructure deployment.
Nvidia is evaluating options to deepen its financial ties with OpenAI by supporting the funding required for a massive data center project. The chip manufacturing leader is considering a proposal to guarantee $250 billion for a new OpenAI data center facility in southern Ohio. In addition, Nvidia is reviewing a separate financing structure to assist OpenAI with purchasing $350 billion worth of Nvidia chips. These prospective arrangements highlight how Nvidia leverages its substantial financial strength to support major clients facing high operational costs. The company currently maintains a market capitalization near $5 trillion alongside profit margins reaching 75 percent.
The ongoing negotiations emphasize the rapid momentum within the artificial intelligence ecosystem while raising new questions about circular tech deals. Concerns over mutually dependent corporate deals nevertheless created pressure across the debt market. The price of credit default swaps on Nvidia bonds reached its highest intraday increase since active trading began in November, according to data from ICE Data Services.
An arm of SoftBank, the Japanese technology investment firm that liquidated its Nvidia holdings in late 2025, is developing the proposed facility in Ohio. Financial backing from Nvidia would allow the project developer to secure debt on more favorable terms than operating without a major backer. Plans place the facility on a decommissioned uranium enrichment site situated on federal land. Under this arrangement, the Commerce Department retains control over power distribution, which will be supplied by a new $33 billion natural gas plant funded by Japan.
In a separate transaction announced Monday, Nvidia agreed to invest in and partner with Safe Superintelligence, an AI startup founded by OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever. Nvidia noted it secured rare access to the company's research, enabling the startup to expand its compute capacity significantly while collaborating on future compute platforms. Representatives for both OpenAI and Nvidia offered no immediate comment regarding the reported agreement under discussion.