- 1. Strive Masiyiwa plans AI crypto energy city needing gigawatt power amid BTC $74,785 USD rally.
- 2. PIF commits $40B USD to energy transition, targeting African AI hubs.
- 3. Mubadala eyes $10B USD in African renewables for crypto mining support.
Zimbabwe richest man Strive Masiyiwa announced an AI crypto energy city on April 14, 2026. The hub will host AI factories, crypto mining, and data centers. It demands gigawatt-scale power upgrades. Bitcoin surged to $74,785 USD, per CoinGecko data.
Econet Wireless founder Masiyiwa shared details in an X post. The project tackles Zimbabwe's grid shortages amid crypto's rise. Gulf sovereign wealth funds express strong interest.
Ethereum rose 5.2% to $2,343.05 USD (CoinGecko). BNB climbed 2.2% to $618.31 USD. XRP gained 2.3% to $1.37 USD.
Gulf Funds Target Zimbabwe AI Crypto Energy Projects
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) pledged $40 billion USD to global energy transition by 2030, per its 2025 annual report. PIF eyes African renewables for AI and mining. Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan stressed infrastructure at Davos 2026.
UAE's Mubadala allocates $10 billion USD to African clean energy. CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak confirmed this in a Reuters interview. The fund scouts Zimbabwe for solar and hydro projects.
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) pursues fintech and power hubs. Its $500 billion USD portfolio shifts to emerging tech, QIA documents show.
Zimbabwe Grid Faces AI Crypto Energy Strain
AI factories need 1 gigawatt of steady power—equal to 1 million homes—per International Energy Agency (IEA). Global crypto mining uses 150 TWh yearly, rivaling Argentina, says Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.
Zimbabwe's ZESA utility endures 18-hour daily blackouts. Victoria Falls hydro provides 40% of power but suffers droughts.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit 21, signaling extreme fear (Alternative.me, April 14, 2026).
PIF, Mubadala Lead Gulf Push into African Power
PIF teams with ACWA Power on 5 GW solar in Saudi Arabia. Mubadala supports Masdar's 2 GW African pipeline.
UAE's VARA oversees crypto in Dubai free zones. ADGM licenses AI fintech in Abu Dhabi. GCC models guide African hubs.
OPEC+ cuts stabilize oil at $85 USD per barrel (OPEC Monthly Report).
Vision 2030 Sparks Sovereign Interest in Zimbabwe
Saudi Vision 2030 invests SAR 1.4 trillion in renewables. PIF's NEOM requires 9 GW, mirroring AI crypto energy city goals.
Abu Dhabi builds lithium chains via Mubadala. Zimbabwe boasts vast reserves.
QIA commits $2 billion USD to African data centers (QIA 2025 disclosures).
Surging Tech Power Demands from GPUs, Mining
NVIDIA GPU clusters drive 10x yearly demand spikes (NVIDIA Q1 2026 earnings). AI training adds 40% cooling loads.
Bitcoin's proof-of-work consumes 120 TWh yearly. Ethereum slashed energy 99% post-merge.
Gulf firms like Saudi Aramco TotalEnergies provide hybrid solutions.
UAE-Zimbabwe Energy Diplomacy Grows
UAE inks 1 GW solar MOUs with Zimbabwe (Emirates News Agency, March 2026). Masdar rolls out off-grid tech.
Saudi Arabia forges Africa deals under Vision 2030. GCC summits boost tech exports.
ACWA Power bids on Kariba hydro upgrades.
Outlook for AI Crypto Energy Boom
Small modular reactors (SMRs) deliver baseload power. PIF pioneers global SMRs.
Bitcoin stays above $74,000 USD. OPEC+ convenes April 28, 2026.
Gulf funds position for Zimbabwe richest man AI crypto energy city success. These projects link Africa's grids to GCC ambitions.
