OpenAI Just Bet Big on Malaysia, And the Whole AI World Is Racing to Keep Up
At a Glance
- Firmus (Nvidia-backed) signs multi-year deal making OpenAI an anchor customer at two Malaysian data centres
- Deal pushes Firmus’ total contracted capacity past 900 megawatts
- Firmus was last valued above $10.5 billion; IPO rumored for later this year
- Meanwhile, Argentina’s Patagonia is emerging as a new AI power hub, with projects worth billions in early stages
The AI infrastructure race just found two new frontlines – one in Southeast Asia, one at the edge of South America.
OpenAI has struck a multi-year deal with Australian firm Firmus for computing capacity across two Malaysian data centres. The agreement lands as global AI players scramble to lock down power and server space before capacity runs out.
KEY DETAILS
The deal lifts Firmus’ total contracted capacity above 900 MW. Backed by Nvidia, Jane Street, Blackstone, and Coatue Management, Firmus will run Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin chips across its Asia-Pacific sites. It’s also expanding in Australia and Singapore, with five more centres in development. Terms weren’t disclosed.
Separately, Patagonia is drawing serious interest from data centre developers chasing cheap renewable power and cold climates – Pampa Energia, FlexDomes, and Poland’s Green Capital are all in early talks, with projects ranging from $900 million to $3 billion.
WHY IT MATTERS
Every gigawatt secured by OpenAI, Google, or Amazon is a signal of where AI spending is heading next, and which suppliers, chipmakers, and regional markets stand to benefit.
Watch Firmus’ rumored IPO and how fast Patagonia moves from talk to shovels – both could reshape the AI infrastructure map fast.
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Sources: Reuters OpenAI-Malaysia-DataCentre
