Riot Platforms Completes $96 Million Rockdale Data Center Acquisition
Riot Platforms, a leading Bitcoin mining company, has strategically expanded its data center portfolio through a $96 million acquisition of its Rockdale facility in Texas. This key transaction positions Riot as a major player in the ever-evolving data center market, enabling the company to build out an impressive 1.7 gigawatts of approved power capacity across its expanding Texas-based operations.
The acquisition also grants Riot fee simple ownership of the Rockdale site, giving it complete control over the property. The site comes equipped with a substantial 700 megawatts of grid interconnection capacity, a dedicated water supply, and fiber connectivity—all crucial for mega-scale data center operations. In total, the company’s land portfolio now exceeds 1,100 acres spread across two facilities in the high-demand Texas Triangle region, covering Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
Unlocking Hyperscale Development Opportunities
The acquisition has opened new doors for Riot for hyperscale computing applications. The company intends to utilize the entire 700 MW capacity at Rockdale to host data center tenants. CEO Jason Les emphasized the transformative nature of this deal, stating, “This partnership represents a validation of Riot’s infrastructure, development capabilities, the attractiveness of our sites, and our readily available power capacity.”
To fund this milestone transaction, Riot sold approximately 1,080 Bitcoin from its balance sheet, showcasing its innovative approach to leveraging digital assets for long-term investments. The strategic use of Bitcoin highlights Riot’s ability to adapt to modern financial mechanisms while maintaining an aggressive growth strategy.
AMD Partnership Adds Strength to Riot’s Vision
As part of its expansion plans, Riot has secured a long-term data center lease agreement with semiconductor giant AMD. Under the agreement, AMD will lease 25 MW of critical IT load capacity at the Rockdale site, with options to expand up to 200 MW. The groundbreaking lease ensures Riot’s position at the forefront of technology-focused partnerships while establishing a solid revenue foundation for the years to come.
The initial 10-year lease is projected to generate approximately $311 million in revenue, with potential extensions increasing the total contract value to $1 billion. Moreover, Riot has invested $89.8 million to retrofit existing facilities to meet AMD’s infrastructure needs, further underlining its commitment to creating scalable, future-oriented solutions.
Driving Innovation in High-Performance Computing
Hasmukh Ranjan, the CIO of AMD, praised Riot Platforms’ capabilities, particularly their power availability and infrastructure alignment with AMD’s roadmap. “At AMD, advancing high-performance computing and AI requires partners that can match our pace and scale,” he noted. The partnership is set to deliver significant innovations in computing and artificial intelligence while creating unprecedented growth avenues for both companies.
Riot’s retrofit investments reflect the strategic alignment with AMD’s needs, with the two-phase capacity delivery scheduled for completion by May 2026. The partnership also sets Riot on a trajectory for sustained operating income and new leasing opportunities within its expanded portfolio.
Invest in Smarter Technology Solutions
For individuals looking to support innovative technological advancements, Riot’s aggressive growth strategy and partnerships, such as with AMD, exemplify the future of digital transformation. To gain insights on optimizing your own data infrastructure or AI applications, explore AMD’s latest high-performance server solutions today.
