OpenVPP announced a $20 million memorandum of understanding with Blackstart to develop what it says could become the world’s first data center operating with fully on-chain energy settlement, marking a shift in how AI infrastructure is powered, accounted for, and monetized.
The agreement is designed to address mounting pressures on data center operators, including interconnection delays, grid constraints, power price volatility, and rising operating costs. By integrating blockchain-based settlement directly into infrastructure operations, OpenVPP aims to connect compute usage, energy consumption, and payments in real time.
Through the partnership, the companies plan to enable faster deployment timelines by reducing reliance on traditional grid interconnection processes and increasing use of onsite energy systems such as microgrids, generation, and storage. The model also introduces new revenue streams for operators, including participation in virtual power plants, demand response programs, ancillary services, and monetization of backup assets like batteries and generators.
OpenVPP’s approach moves infrastructure accounting and settlement on-chain, enabling automated, real-time payments tied directly to energy usage and performance. The system is intended to reduce administrative overhead, lower transaction costs, and increase transparency across stakeholders. It also supports improved uptime and resilience through islanding capabilities, optimization of energy dispatch based on pricing, and better alignment of compute workloads with energy economics.
The companies also position the initiative as part of a broader vision for scalable AI infrastructure, where energy assets are used more efficiently, excess power can be sold during peak pricing periods, long-term operating expenses are reduced, and operators can enhance ESG performance by supporting grid flexibility and renewable integration.
Today, most data centers rely on fragmented systems to track compute usage, energy consumption, and payments, with settlement often occurring days or weeks after services are delivered. OpenVPP’s model aims to unify these processes into a single on-chain framework, enabling transparent accounting, programmable payments, and a more scalable approach to infrastructure monetization.
