Mark Cuban Predicts AI Chips to Become the ‘New Crypto’

Mark Cuban has made a bold declaration, stating that AI chips could emerge as the “new crypto”. In comments made on August 16, 2026, he highlighted that “chips as an asset class will be the new crypto,” reflecting his belief that the burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence will drive the growth of advanced computing hardware investments.

Cuban’s Prediction and Market Insights

Cuban’s assertion aligns with recent trends in the tech industry, particularly the success of companies investing heavily in GPU technology. CoreWeave recently closed a substantial $2.6 billion loan facility aimed at financing GPU-powered platforms, indicating strong lender confidence in future demand for such chips. In fact, Nvidia reported a remarkable $75.2 billion in data center revenue for a recent quarter, marking a staggering 92% increase year-over-year.

The Evolution of AI Hardware Financing

CoreWeave has established itself as a pioneer in GPU-backed financing, a model that allows these chips to act as collateral in institutional credit markets. This approach gained traction with their previous financing round where they raised an additional $3.1 billion, underscoring the viability of AI infrastructure as a developing asset category.

Critiques and Market Limitations

However, Cuban’s comparison of AI chips to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin has drawn scrutiny. Critics, including Bitcoin advocate Pierre Rochard, argued that chips don’t share fundamental characteristics with crypto, such as halvings or difficult adjustments. Rochard emphasized that the physical nature of chips and their dependency on various market factors complicate their establishment as a standalone investment class.

Cuban’s Shift from Bitcoin

This declaration comes shortly after Cuban significantly reduced his Bitcoin holdings, selling approximately 80% of his stake amid growing skepticism about its role as a financial hedge. While he retains a firm stance on Ethereum, citing its smart contracts and decentralized finance as beneficial, he has not indicated a direct shift from crypto to hardware investments.

Looking Ahead

The real test of Cuban’s prediction lies in whether GPU financing can standardize and become accessible beyond niche markets. Current trends show that institutional lenders are already making substantial investments in computing infrastructure, but whether this will ultimately create a fluid market akin to cryptocurrencies remains to be seen.