Kalshi traders back 75% odds for over 5,100 data centers by 2027

Prediction market participants on Kalshi currently assign a 75% probability that the number of data centers planned or operating in the United States will exceed 5,100 before 2027. This likelihood represents a significant increase from the 60% probability recorded just two weeks prior, according to data from the platform.

The resolution of this specific contract is determined by Data Center Map, an organization that tracks and plots both planned and active data center facilities on its website. As of the latest count provided by Data Center Map, there are more than 4,700 operating and planned data centers currently located in the U.S. The distribution of these facilities is uneven across states, with Virginia leading the nation with more than 670 planned and online facilities. Texas follows as the second-largest state by count with 537 facilities, while California accounts for more than 200, according to the mapping data.

The expansion of data center infrastructure has coincided with growing public backlash against such construction projects. Communities and activists in affected areas argue that these developments lead to higher utility costs for local residents and consume significant amounts of water. Tech companies have been actively increasing their data center footprint in states including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, despite the local opposition.

Challenges in specific projects have recently come to light. Bloomberg reported last month that Oracle sent a "force majeure" notice to a developer regarding its New Mexico data center project. The notice was issued to protect the company from higher expenses in the event that the project does not come online in 2028 as anticipated. Additionally, Bloomberg noted that Oracle's proposed facility encountered regulatory hurdles this summer when New Mexico regulators rejected applications for a gas pipeline project intended to fuel the data center.

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