Nvidia is considering a $250 billion financial guarantee for OpenAI's AI data center project in Ohio, managed by SoftBank.
Nvidia is currently evaluating the possibility of offering a financial guarantee up to $250 billion for OpenAI's artificial intelligence data center project in Ohio. This initiative, primarily overseen by SoftBank’s energy division, SB Energy, is projected to cost around $500 billion, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal.
The proposed project aims to establish a hub with a capacity of 10 gigawatts in southern Ohio, with the guarantee aimed at reducing risks for lenders involved in funding both the lease and construction phases. If OpenAI or the project defaults, Nvidia would assume some of the financial exposure.
However, WSJ reports that this substantial guarantee would not cover the Nvidia chips that will power the facility. Additionally, discussions are underway regarding the procurement of OpenAI's accelerators, which could be valued as high as $350 billion.
The negotiations come amid increased scrutiny from the U.S. government over the allocation of resources linked to the facility, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly involved in oversight. The discussions are still in preliminary stages and may not come to fruition. Neither Nvidia, OpenAI, nor SoftBank has provided comments about the situation, according to Reuters.
This potential guarantee could pose a significant contingent liability for Nvidia, whose total assets were reported at $259.5 billion as of April 26, 2026. This includes shareholder equity of $195.5 billion and available cash equivalents of $13.2 billion.
The arrangement could reshape the funding landscape for AI by enabling a circular financing approach, where chip makers, cloud services, and AI developers create mutual support through investments and long-term contracts. For OpenAI, Nvidia's guarantee could ease infrastructure access and lessen its dependence on major players like Microsoft and Amazon. Meanwhile, Nvidia would secure enduring demand for its accelerators, expanding its role beyond hardware supply to include financial engagement in significant projects.
Bloomberg also highlighted Nvidia’s prior investments in companies like CoreWeave, which uses its GPUs, and its involvement in reacquiring unused capacities from them. Back in September 2025, Nvidia and OpenAI had already cemented a strategic partnership with potential investments reaching $100 billion, aimed at enhancing AI infrastructure alongside partners like Microsoft and Oracle.
However, OpenAI later scaled back its long-term spending plans by $800 billion in February 2026, following reports of complications with its Stargate project, which led to disappointment among investors regarding SoftBank's aggressive investment strategy in OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman.
