Starboard Value urges Riot Platforms to accelerate AI data center expansion
Activist investor Starboard Value is urging Riot Platforms to pivot toward AI data centers to leverage its power capacity. Shares rose 5% on the news today.
Insights:
Activist investor Starboard Value has urged Riot Platforms, Inc. to accelerate its efforts in securing AI data center deals, an announcement that coincided with a positive stock reaction in premarket trading today, February 18, 2026. The investor argued that the company should leverage its significant power capacity at its Texas sites to capitalize on the growing demand for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure. This strategic shift is proposed as a way to capitalize on booming AI infrastructure demand as bitcoin mining profits remain volatile.
The intervention by Starboard Value, led by Managing Member Peter Feld, comes as the US 
US firm manages a sizeable near-term capacity of approximately 1.7 gigawatts across two primary locations in Texas: the Corsicana (Texas site) and the Rockdale (Texas site). Starboard, which holds a stake of about 12.7 million shares in the company, suggests that these sites are uniquely suited for use by hyperscalers and providers of high-performance computing. The activist's call links shareholder pressure to a potential strategic shift in how the company utilizes its vast energy resources.
US firm manages a sizeable near-term capacity of approximately 1.7 gigawatts across two primary locations in Texas: the Corsicana (Texas site) and the Rockdale (Texas site). Starboard, which holds a stake of about 12.7 million shares in the company, suggests that these sites are uniquely suited for use by hyperscalers and providers of high-performance computing. The activist's call links shareholder pressure to a potential strategic shift in how the company utilizes its vast energy resources.
