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AI & Machine Learning

Anthropic Leases $19B Datacenter for Two Decades

WireByte Staff · July 7, 2026

AI startup Anthropic has signed a 20-year lease with TeraWulf for a $19 billion datacenter in Kentucky, despite never turning a profit. The deal is expected to support Anthropic's operations until 2047, pending completion of the facility in 2028.

Key points

  • Anthropic, an AI startup, has signed a 20-year lease with TeraWulf for a $19 billion datacenter in Hawesville, Kentucky.
  • The lease is expected to support Anthropic's operations until 2047, pending completion of the facility in 2028.
  • TeraWulf expects to commence limited operations in the second half of 2027, with full completion in 2028.
  • Anthropic has never turned a profit, but believes it will survive any AI bubble burst and continue operating until 2047.
  • The deal is expected to cost Anthropic $19 billion in contracted revenues over two decades.
  • Anthropic still needs to fill the facility with compute, requiring additional capital to raise.

Anthropic, a prominent AI startup, has made a significant move by signing a 20-year lease with TeraWulf for a $19 billion datacenter in Hawesville, Kentucky. The lease is expected to support Anthropic's operations until 2047, pending completion of the facility in 2028. TeraWulf, a crypto-mining outfit turned AI datacenter operator, expects to commence limited operations in the second half of 2027, with full completion in 2028.

Despite never turning a profit, Anthropic believes it will survive any AI bubble burst and continue operating until 2047. The deal is expected to cost Anthropic $19 billion in contracted revenues over two decades. However, Anthropic still needs to fill the facility with compute, requiring additional capital to raise.

The 401-megawatt facility is a significant investment, with approximately half the cost attributed to power, shell, and thermal management systems. The remaining cost is for compute and networking. The deal has sparked interest in the tech industry, with analysts and investors closely watching Anthropic's progress.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.