SoftBank rushes to raise $22.5B to meet OpenAI funding deadline as AI compute costs surge

SoftBank Group is scrambling to raise the remaining $22.5 billion of its $40 billion investment commitment to OpenAI before a year-end deadline, underscoring how access to capital is becoming a key competitive advantage in artificial intelligence as computing costs surge. The payment was triggered after OpenAI completed its transition to a for-profit structure in October, following an initial tranche already paid by SoftBank. To secure the funds, SoftBank has relied on asset sales and tighter internal controls. It has sold its entire Nvidia stake, worth about $5.8 billion, and around $4.8 billion in T-Mobile US shares, while also cutting staff and slowing most Vision Fund dealmaking. Additional options include monetizing its stake in Didi Global, using margin loans backed by Arm Holdings shares, and a delayed PayPay IPO now expected in early 2026. The urgency reflects the strategic importance of OpenAI to SoftBank’s AI ambitions, including its involvement in the massive Stargate data-center initiative. Success would strengthen SoftBank’s position across the AI supply chain, while failure to meet the deadline could weaken its influence. The situation highlights a broader shift in AI, where sustained capital investment is now as critical as technological breakthroughs.