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Galaxy CEO Michael Novogratz on data center expansion, fate of Senate crypto bill

Reported by Cnbc
Jan 16, 2026· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Galaxy Digital acquired 500 acres in Texas for approximately $7.5 million to develop a second high-performance computing (HPC) data center campus spanning several hundred megawatts, expanding its existing Helios data center footprint.
  • • CEO Michael Novogratz framed 2026 as a "year for building," linking cryptocurrency infrastructure and AI power demand as interconnected growth drivers for the company's data center expansion strategy.
  • • Novogratz expressed confidence that the CLARITY Act—Senate cryptocurrency legislation—will clear the 60-vote threshold, citing a compromise resolution over ethics provisions as the primary point of friction between parties.
  • • Despite potential delays to U.S. crypto regulation, Novogratz downplayed near-term consequences, noting the digital asset industry has demonstrated resilience through previous legislative setbacks.
Summary
Galaxy Digital, led by founder and CEO Michael Novogratz, is aggressively expanding its data center infrastructure to capitalize on converging demand from cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence sectors. The company acquired a 500-acre Texas property for approximately $7.5 million where it plans to construct a high-performance computing data center campus capable of reaching several hundred megawatts of capacity. This acquisition represents a significant step in scaling Galaxy's existing Helios data center operations and reflects Novogratz's strategic positioning of the firm to serve both onchain finance and AI's escalating power requirements.

In recent commentary, Novogratz characterized 2026 as a pivotal "year for building," underscoring Galaxy's focus on infrastructure development rather than trading or speculative positioning. The CEO has articulated a thesis linking cryptocurrency's onchain finance evolution and artificial intelligence's power-intensive computational demands as a single structural opportunity, suggesting that data center capacity will remain a critical competitive advantage across both sectors. This framing positions Galaxy to benefit from secular trends in both markets simultaneously.

On the regulatory front, Novogratz addressed the status of U.S. cryptocurrency legislation, specifically the CLARITY Act, which remains pending in the Senate. He expressed optimism that the bill will achieve the necessary 60-vote supermajority, identifying ethics provisions as the primary point of contention between parties and signaling that a workable compromise exists. While acknowledging potential further delays to comprehensive crypto regulation, Novogratz minimized the operational impact, arguing that the digital asset industry has weathered previous legislative delays without material disruption to business fundamentals or capital deployment strategies.

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Sources

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Cnbc Galaxy CEO Michael Novogratz on data center expansion, fate of Senate crypto bill