Riot Platforms has signed a significant long-term contract with artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, securing its position as a major US data center operator. The agreement covers the lease of 191 megawatts of capacity at Riot’s Rockdale, Texas, facility under a 20-year term.
ETH
SOL
BSC
ROBINHOOD
USDT
AAPLMajor boost to Riot’s data center business
Bloomberg reported that the deal is expected to generate approximately $9.1 billion in revenue for Riot Platforms. The contract also includes two options for five-year extensions, which could raise the total value to as much as $16.1 billion if exercised.
Riot’s Rockdale campus currently has 700 megawatts of grid interconnection capacity, making it one of the largest such sites in North America. Across its portfolio, Riot has roughly 1.7 gigawatts of fully approved power capacity, underscoring its scale in both cryptocurrency mining and data center operations.
Anthropic is an advanced artificial intelligence research company focused on building reliable and safe AI systems for commercial use.
Mini dictionary: Anthropic, a US artificial intelligence company founded by former OpenAI employees, develops advanced AI models and chatbot technology, focusing on transparency, safety, and responsible AI deployment.
The arrangement with Anthropic follows Riot’s partnership with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which marked a pivotal moment in Riot’s expansion from Bitcoin mining towards enterprise data center services. AMD initially leased 25 megawatts at the Rockdale facility, later exercising an option to double its contracted capacity to 50 megawatts. Riot reported $33.2 million in data center revenue for the first quarter of this year.
| Company | Contracted Capacity (MW) | Deal Length | Revenue Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic | 191 | 20 years (extendable to 30) | $9.1 billion (up to $16.1 billion) |
| AMD | 50 | Undisclosed | Included in Q1 data center revenue |
Riot’s data center business has gained momentum through strategic partnerships that bring large-scale, recurring revenue opportunities, complementing the company’s core mining operations.
Ongoing Bitcoin sales to finance expansion
Throughout 2026, Riot Platforms has been actively selling Bitcoin holdings to support its growth initiatives. In the first quarter alone, the company sold 3,778 BTC at an average price of $76,626 each, bringing in about $289.5 million. This amount was more than double the 1,473 BTC mined during the same period.
In December 2025, Riot sold 1,818 BTC for $161.6 million, and in the previous month, the miner liquidated 383 BTC for $37 million. By year-end, Riot’s total Bitcoin holdings stood at 18,005 BTC, reflecting the impact of these sales on its reserves.
In January, Riot also sold around 1,080 BTC to fund the $96 million purchase of an additional 200 acres at the Rockdale campus, explicitly using proceeds from its Bitcoin balance sheet for the real estate acquisition. These transactions demonstrate the company’s willingness to convert digital assets into capital for physical expansion.
The predictable revenue streams from data center contracts such as Anthropic’s provide Riot with long-term stability as it diversifies beyond cryptocurrency mining.
