Hyperscalers' Capex Investment for 2026: 41% Expansion Projection

The capex of leading data center operators is shaping up to be one of the central topics in the digital economy in 2026. According to the analysis published by Liz Thomas, Head of Investment Strategy at SoFi, the market consensus projects a capital expenditure of $518 billion for this year, representing a 41% year-over-year increase. This figure reflects the unprecedented intensity with which hyperscalers are accelerating their investments in technological infrastructure.

Market Consensus on Capital Spending

The projected capex of $518 billion is not an isolated number but a reflection of a coordinated strategy among global technology leaders. These operators recognize that the competition for cloud computing and data processing capabilities demands massive and sustained investments. The 41% annual growth underscores the urgency of the moment: demand for computational resources continues to escalate faster than existing infrastructure can meet.

Digital Infrastructure: Growth Driver of Capex

Behind this increase in capex lies an unavoidable reality: digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and cloud services require increasingly robust server architectures. Hyperscalers are investing in geographic expansion, upgrading existing data centers, and adopting more energy-efficient technologies. This dynamism in capex not only modernizes the available infrastructure but also positions these companies to capture future opportunities in a constantly evolving market. The digital infrastructure landscape of 2026 will be defined by the volume and intelligence of the capex deployed during this period.