industry
IREN Launches First AI Cluster for Microsoft Under $9.7 Billion Contract
IREN has activated Horizon 1, the first of four AI data center clusters for Microsoft, under a contract valued at $9.7 billion. The new 50 MW data center in Texas employs liquid cooling and signals expanding AI infrastructure efforts.
AS1 News
BTCOn August 17, IREN announced the operational launch of Horizon 1, the initial phase of a major AI data center project for Microsoft. The facility, with a capacity of 50 MW, is located in Texas and utilizes advanced liquid cooling technology. This deployment is part of a broader plan to scale up to 200 MW and beyond, reflecting a growing industry focus on AI and high-performance computing (HPC). The contract with Microsoft underscores the strategic importance of AI infrastructure investments, with IREN aiming to increase its data center capacity to 480 MW in 2026 and 1.2 GW in 2027. The launch of Horizon 1 demonstrates substantial capital commitment to AI infrastructure, potentially influencing sector dynamics and competition between traditional mining operations and AI development.
The deployment signifies a strategic shift towards AI infrastructure, with large-scale data centers becoming central to industry growth and competition.