SoftBank has taken on a $40 billion short-term loan to support its massive $30 billion investment in OpenAI—a move that is raising expectations of a major IPO in the near future. The loan is unsecured and must be repaid within 12 months, suggesting that lenders are betting on a liquidity event, such as an IPO, to help cover the debt.

With backing from major institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, the structure of the deal implies strong confidence in OpenAI’s growth and market potential. If the IPO happens as expected, it could become one of the largest public listings ever, giving SoftBank the ability to repay the loan while significantly expanding its stake in the AI sector.