Kalshi traders see high odds that more than 5,100 data centers will be planned or operating before 2027

• Kalshi traders see a 75% likelihood that there will be more than 5,100 planned or operating artificial intelligence centers before 2027. That’s up from 60% two weeks ago.
• The rising odds that the data center buildout will grow come amid a heightened public backlash against the construction projects as communities raise concern over rising energy costs and higher water usage.

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Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTAnn McCoslin assembles "no data center" signs to place along a county road next to the proposed Crusoe data center, in Jewett, Texas, July 28, 2026.Antranik Tavitian | The Washington Post | Getty Images

Public backlash is rising against the construction of data centers, but Kalshi traders see a higher likelihood that the number of data centers planned or operating before the new year will top 5,000

Prediction market platform Kalshi shows a 75% chance that there will be more than 5,100 proposed and live data centers before 2027. In just two weeks, the likelihood has jumped from 60%.

The contract's odds will be resolved and verified by Data Center Map, which plots out planned and running data centers on its website.

So far, there are more than 4,700 operating and planned data centers in the U.S., according to Data Center Map. Among states, Virginia is in the lead with more than 670 planned and on-line facilities, followed by Texas with 537 and California with more than 200, Data Center Map found.

Tech companies have been growing their data center footprint in states like Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The buildout has faced backlash from communities and activists who argue such projects would raise utility costs for locals and consume significant amounts of water.

Last month Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar, that Oracle sent its developer a "force majeure" notice tied to its New Mexico data center project in a bid to protect itself from higher expenses in the event the project doesn't come online in 2028 as anticipated.

Oracle's proposed data center also hit snags this summer after New Mexico regulators turned down applications for a gas pipeline project to fuel it, Bloomberg reported.

Disclosure: CNBC and Kalshi have a commercial relationship that includes customer acquisition and a minority investment.

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