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Galaxy Digital Wins McGregor Approval for 500‑Acre AI Data Campus

The deal marks a clear pivot from bitcoin mining to AI and high-performance computing, with Galaxy committing more than $400 million, financing guarantees for utility upgrades, and a target to bring initial power online by 2028.

Overview

  • Galaxy secured roughly 499–500 acres and won a 5–1 City Council vote Tuesday to develop Project Merlin as a multi-building AI and high-performance computing campus.
  • The initial build is planned as a roughly 74-megawatt phase with Galaxy publicly committing more than $400 million, a private electrical substation, a million-gallon water tank, and closed-loop cooling to limit water use.
  • Galaxy agreed to underwrite needed utility and water upgrades under the development pact so costs do not fall on local ratepayers, and the land sale generated about $7–7.5 million for McGregor.
  • Investors reacted negatively to the announcement with GLXY shares falling about 8%, while Galaxy continues larger financing and buildout work at its Helios campus that already holds over 1.6 GW of ERCOT-approved power.
  • The project aims to scale to multiple hundreds of megawatts through 2030 but depends on transmission upgrades, long-term tenant leases and significant construction financing, which are the main execution risks for the plan.