EdgeMode has taken a significant step toward expanding its position in the European AI infrastructure market with the signing of a definitive agreement with Blackberry AIF (BAIF) to acquire and develop a portfolio of large-scale data center sites across Spain.
The deal would position the U.S.-listed company (OTC: EDGM), a so called penny stock, as a major player in one of Europe’s fastest-growing AI and hyperscale markets, where demand for power-secure compute infrastructure continues to outpace available supply.
Under the agreement, EdgeMode and BAIF will transfer five planned data center sites into a dedicated special purpose vehicle (SPV). EdgeMode will retain a 75% controlling stake, with BAIF holding the remaining 25%. EdgeMode is assuming responsibility for financing and advancing the projects to Ready-to-Build (RTB) status, a milestone that will allow each site to be monetised or moved into construction depending on strategic objectives and market conditions.
The combined portfolio represents more than 1.5GW of planned Tier 3 data center capacity, placing it among the largest AI-focused infrastructure pipelines currently in development in Europe. Individually, each site is expected to exceed 300MW, a scale designed to meet the clustered, high-density requirements of GPU-supported AI training and inference workloads. Once the sites reach RTB status, the company believes they could command valuations approaching $1 million per megawatt – figures consistent with the premium pricing seen in high-demand European hyperscale markets.
EdgeMode CEO Charlie Faulkner described the deal as a turning point for the company. According to Faulkner, the economics of AI infrastructure are increasingly driven by access to reliable, high-capacity power rather than customer demand or capital availability. Spain, he argued, offers a strategic combination of land availability, power generation optionality, and active hyperscaler interest. BAIF’s experience in local development processes is seen as a critical factor in navigating permitting and regional planning frameworks.
Jose Mora, CEO of BAIF, highlighted the partnership’s blend of local execution and international capital markets access as the foundation for accelerating the sites’ progression to RTB. For BAIF, the collaboration offers a platform for long-term investment creation in a region experiencing rapid digital expansion.
Power-Ready Land for AI-Grade Data Centers
For EdgeMode, the move would align with a broader strategic roadmap that includes a planned U.S. uplisting and the establishment of a recurring RTB monetization model. The companies are now focused on securing final permits, completing RTB documentation, designing power integration configurations – including gas baseload, optional renewables and battery energy storage – and advancing discussions with potential hyperscale buyers and infrastructure investors. The first sites are expected to reach RTB by 2027, with phased commercialization extending into 2028.
The deal underscores a wider trend across Europe: the race to secure power-ready land for AI-grade data centers. As hyperscalers confront grid constraints across markets such as Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK, southern Europe is emerging as an increasingly attractive destination for large-scale compute deployments. EdgeMode’s bet on Spain signals that the competition for gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure footprints is accelerating, with developers moving aggressively to lock in permitting, power and long-term JV partners before demand escalates further.
Executive Insights FAQ: EdgeMode’s European Expansion
How does this agreement change EdgeMode’s strategic positioning?
It shifts the company from operating smaller compute facilities toward becoming a large-scale developer of AI-ready data center campuses across Europe, aligning it more directly with hyperscalers and institutional infrastructure capital.
Why is Spain emerging as a preferred location for AI infrastructure?
Spain offers available land, expanding grid interconnections, diversified power sources, and fewer permitting bottlenecks than northern European markets. These factors make it attractive for multi-hundred-megawatt projects.
What is the significance of reaching Ready-to-Build status?
RTB status validates that land, permits, and power are secured, making sites far more valuable and enabling developers to monetize them through sales, joint ventures or direct construction.
How might this impact EdgeMode’s capital markets trajectory?
A scalable RTB pipeline and European presence could strengthen the company’s credentials ahead of a planned U.S. uplisting by demonstrating predictable development economics and institutional-grade assets.
What are the key risks facing the Spain data center portfolio?
Risks include permitting delays, power integration complexities, competition for hyperscale buyers, and execution challenges across multiple 300MW-plus campuses. Delivering RTB on schedule will be the critical milestone investors watch.
