ChatGPT maker OpenAI is in early-stage talks with investors to raise $40 billion in a fresh funding round, WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The new financing would value the artificial intelligence (AI) giant at $340 billion.

Previously, OpenAI was valued at $157 billion when it raised $6.6 billion in October, according to the report. For the new round, SoftBank is said to be the lead investor supplying funding between $15 billion and $25 billion, the story continued.

This could bode well for AI-linked cryptocurrencies, as OpenAI almost doubling its valuation would bring back some confidence into the sector after competitor DeepSeek's rise took some froth out of the industry.