BlackRock-Led AIP Strikes $40 Billion Deal for Aligned Data Centers, Fueling AI's Infrastructure Boom

In a landmark move underscoring the insatiable demand for AI computing power, the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) has spearheaded a $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centers, marking the largest data center transaction in history.

Announced on October 15, 2025, the deal sees AIP—backed by heavyweights like BlackRock, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Elon Musk's xAI—joining forces with MGX of Abu Dhabi and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) to buy out all equity from Macquarie Asset Management. This consortium's bold entry into the sector highlights how private capital is racing to underpin the AI revolution, where data centers form the backbone of everything from cloud services to advanced model training.

The transaction arrives at a pivotal moment. AI companies are scrambling to secure the massive infrastructure needed to handle exploding workloads, with players like OpenAI, Nvidia, CoreWeave, and Oracle inking deals that demand unprecedented funding and energy resources.

Aligned, with its portfolio of 50 campuses and over 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity, positions itself as a prime asset in this high-stakes game. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2026 pending regulatory nods, not only catapults AIP's ambitions but also signals a new era where sovereign wealth and tech titans converge to reshape global digital economies.

The Birth of a Supercharged Consortium

AIP emerged in September 2024 as a powerhouse alliance, founded by BlackRock, GIP, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia to channel investments into AI infrastructure. With an initial target of mobilizing $30 billion in equity capital—and the potential to scale to $100 billion including debt—the partnership has quickly expanded its orbit. Newcomers include the Kuwait Investment Authority, Singapore's Temasek, and xAI, alongside tech collaborator Cisco and energy allies GE Vernova and NextEra Energy.

This acquisition represents AIP's inaugural investment, a strategic thrust into the heart of AI's physical demands. Larry Fink, BlackRock's CEO and AIP's chairman, frames it as a cornerstone for powering AI's future while unlocking client opportunities in the sector's growth. The consortium's makeup is no accident: BlackRock brings fiduciary prowess and vast asset management scale, MGX offers a sharp focus on AI technologies from its UAE base, and GIP contributes decades of expertise in operating complex infrastructure assets across energy, transport, and digital realms.

Together, they form a syndicate capable of deploying capital at warp speed. MGX's CEO, Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, who also serves as AIP's vice chairman, emphasizes the deal's role in reengineering economies through scalable compute infrastructure. GIP's chairman and CEO, Bayo Ogunlesi, highlights the synergy between Aligned's adaptable platform and AIP's resources, promising resilient communities and transformative growth.

Aligned's Edge in a Power-Hungry Market

At the center of this deal stands Aligned Data Centers, a Dallas-headquartered innovator that has ballooned into one of the world's fastest-growing data center operators in under a decade. Founded to tackle the escalating needs of hyperscalers, neocloud providers, and enterprises, Aligned specializes in sustainable, ultra-efficient facilities tailored for high-density AI and high-performance computing workloads.

The company's footprint spans key Tier I markets in North and South America, including Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City in the U.S., plus Sao Paulo in Brazil, Queretaro in Mexico, and Santiago in Chile. This geographic spread ensures proximity to major digital hubs, minimizing latency while tapping into diverse energy sources.

What sets Aligned apart is its technological prowess. Holding over 50 patents, the firm deploys award-winning cooling systems—air, liquid, and hybrid—that adapt to evolving demands, even in energy-scarce areas. Its Gigascale, Build-to-Scale, and Multi-Tenant Enterprise solutions enable rapid deployment and maximum efficiency. Bolstered by a robust supply chain, strategic land grabs, and flexible financing, Aligned has forged tight partnerships with customers, delivering on complex requirements with agility.

Under CEO Andrew Schaap, who will continue leading alongside the existing team, Aligned has transformed industrial sites into tech epicenters, creating jobs and upskilling local workforces. Schaap views the partnership as a accelerator for scaling innovations and redefining sustainable data infrastructure. The infusion of consortium capital will expedite footprint expansion, fuel R&D, and cement Aligned's role in supporting global AI adoption.

Navigating the AI Infrastructure Surge

The $40 billion valuation reflects broader market dynamics. Data centers, once niche real estate plays, now command premium pricing amid AI's voracious appetite for power and space. Facilities like Aligned's house the servers, GPUs, and cooling tech essential for training massive models and running inference tasks. With demand projected to soar, investors are piling in, betting on sustained growth.

Yet challenges loom. Energy constraints in key regions could throttle expansion, while regulatory scrutiny over power usage and environmental impact intensifies. Aligned's focus on sustainability—through efficient cooling and community benefits—positions it well, but the consortium must navigate these hurdles. AIP's energy tie-ups with GE Vernova and NextEra suggest a proactive stance on securing clean, reliable power.

Financially, the deal exemplifies how private markets are filling voids left by traditional funding. BlackRock's $189 billion in infrastructure assets under management, combined with MGX's tech-centric investments in semiconductors and life sciences, provide a deep well of expertise. For investors, AIP offers exposure to AI's upside without direct tech stock volatility, aligning with Fink's vision of democratizing growth opportunities.

Executive Voices on the Horizon

Quotes from the deal's architects reveal a shared optimism. Fink underscores AIP's role in mobilizing private capital to drive AI innovation and productivity gains. Al Idrissi sees compute at scale as foundational to economic reengineering. Ogunlesi envisions building infrastructure that fosters worldwide progress. Schaap, meanwhile, highlights the partnership's potential to push boundaries in digital infrastructure.

These sentiments echo across the sector, where AI's transformative promise meets real-world bottlenecks. As companies vie for dominance, deals like this could set precedents for collaboration between finance, tech, and sovereign entities.