SoftBank is borrowing $10 billion to pay its next OpenAI bill.
SoftBank launched $10 billion of dollar bonds and one billion euros of euro bonds on Monday. The money covers a $10 billion payment for its third OpenAI tranche, closing on 1 October. SoftBank has now sold almost $15 billion of bonds this year, more than any other junk-rated borrower.
Why it mattersThe biggest cheques in AI are now written with borrowed money, not cash in the bank. That ties the boom to bond markets, which can shut faster than anyone plans for.
Read in the app — free, in 9 languages
Related stories
Alibaba's new AI chip is built to run 500,000 in one cluster.2026-09-22A Chinese server maker packed 128 home-made AI chips in one cabinet.
2026-09-22Local opposition froze $68 billion of US data centres.
2026-09-21Amazon locked Meta's shopping agent out of its store.
2026-09-21Anthropic's revenue is on pace to pass $100 billion this year.
2026-09-21