The US $10tn AI infrastructure boom is beginning to crack
America’s $10tn AI infrastructure boom is starting to fray
The US $10tn AI infrastructure boom is beginning to crack, with project delays, public opposition and shaken investor confidence jointly hitting the data center construction that underpins the US economy. According to data from regulatory intelligence firm RegLayer, at least 47 large projects were delayed, withdrawn or blocked in 2026, Bernstein estimated this month that only about 35% of the planned US data center pipeline is credible, and FT research shows that more than 1,000 US communities have tried to introduce bans or other restrictions this year. This week investors began repricing risk in the sector, with CoreWeave's share price falling nearly 25% in a week and one of its unsecured bonds falling into distressed territory. SoftBank's SB Energy postponed its listing plans at a $50bn valuation, while OpenAI's $500bn Stargate project faced planning permission obstacles, project delays and executive departures.
Using specific data such as project delays, bond sell-offs and community opposition, the article shows AI data center expansion tightening on both the financing and approval fronts.