SoftBank Group has completed a second $10 billion investment in OpenAI, moving closer to fulfilling its planned $30 billion follow-on commitment as competition for artificial intelligence leadership continues to reshape technology and digital asset markets.
The Japanese investment bank announced on July 1 that the latest funding was made through SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The investment forms part of the $30 billion commitment announced in February, with the latest tranche valued at about 1.63 trillion Japanese yen.
[プレスリリース] OpenAIへの追加出資（セカンドトランシェ）の実行に関するお知らせ…
— ソフトバンクグループ株式会社 | SoftBank Group Corp. (@SoftBank_Group) July 1, 2026
SoftBank said it expects to complete the final $10 billion investment on October 1, 2026. However, the company noted that the timeline could be brought forward if OpenAI lists its shares before then.
SoftBank’s latest investment with borrowed capital
To finance the latest investment, SoftBank disclosed that it borrowed $10 billion under a bridge facility agreement signed on March 27.
This shows the scale of SoftBank’s confidence in OpenAI despite growing concerns among investors over the company’s path to a public listing. The investment strengthens OpenAI’s financial position as it continues expanding AI infrastructure and product development.
The funding also reinforces SoftBank’s role as one of OpenAI’s biggest backers, with the Japanese firm making AI the centrepiece of its long-term investment strategy.
Recently, OpenAI made plans to secure one of the largest artificial intelligence computing hubs ever planned, with a proposed b data centre campus in southern Ohio that could reshape the future of digital infrastructure.
Why does OpenAI’s IPO timeline matter?
Investor attention has recently moved to when OpenAI could eventually go public.
Reports previously suggested OpenAI may delay an initial public offering until 2027 as it seeks to maintain a valuation that could approach $1 trillion. While the company has reportedly submitted confidential paperwork to U.S. regulators, no final decision on an IPO timeline has been announced.
The uncertainty weighed on SoftBank shares in recent weeks, with investors viewing the company as one of the closest public-market proxies for OpenAI’s future value. A later listing would postpone any market valuation of SoftBank’s growing stake and delay opportunities to realize returns.
AI funding remains an important theme for crypto markets
Although the investment is centred on artificial intelligence, the continued flow of capital into AI is being closely watched across the crypto industry.
AI and blockchain projects increasingly share infrastructure, including high-performance computing, decentralized data networks and tokenized AI services. Large investments into AI companies often influence investor sentiment across AI-related crypto tokens and blockchain projects building AI applications.
Earlier reports also indicated SoftBank was discussing investments of up to $30 billion in OpenAI as part of another funding round that could value the company at nearly $830 billion, revealing the growing financial commitment behind one of the world’s leading AI firms.
Enjoyed this? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and CoinMarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights
Take control of your crypto portfolio with DEFI PLANET PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics
