SoftBank Clears $22.5B for OpenAI as Restructuring Nears Completion

In Brief

• SoftBank approves $22.5B as part of its $30B investment in OpenAI.
• Investment hinges on OpenAI completing corporate restructuring by year-end.
• SoftBank stock rises 5.69%, reflecting strong investor response to the funding news.

SoftBank has approved a second installment of $22.5 billion for OpenAI, completing its planned $30 billion investment. The board’s decision supports the funding on condition that OpenAI finishes its restructuring process this year.

This step brings SoftBank closer to finalizing its role in a broader $41 billion financing round announced earlier in April. The approval signals continued commitment, although it still depends on OpenAI shifting to a for-profit structure.

Restructuring Tied to Public Offering Plans

OpenAI must complete a corporate restructuring designed to enable a future public listing before receiving the remaining funds. The investment terms include a clause that lowers the total to $20 billion if the restructuring fails.

SoftBank initially agreed to invest $10 billion in April, followed by an additional $30 billion in December under specific terms. The current $22.5 billion is part of that second portion, approved as OpenAI progresses toward structural changes.

Investor Reactions and Market Performance

SoftBank’s stock price climbed by 5.69% to close at 23,880 JPY, indicating a positive market response to the funding news. The strong trading range between 23,170 JPY and 23,910 JPY highlighted growing investor confidence.

The company’s market cap now stands at 35.10 trillion JPY, supported by a P/E ratio of 20.01, showing steady valuation strength. Meanwhile, Worldcoin (WLD) recorded a 0.96% hourly gain, with consistent increases over daily and weekly timeframes.

Worldcoin’s price rose to $0.9052, showing 3.04% growth in 24 hours and 2.90% over the week. These figures suggest sustained interest and momentum in the broader AI-related token space.

This development marks another major move by SoftBank to strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence sector. OpenAI’s successful restructuring could unlock further capital and push the company toward public markets.