Hong Kong’s fintech TROOPS to invest $12 M in new Southeast Asia AI-infrastructure unit
Hong Kong-based money-lending and property group TROOPS, which is listed on Nasdaq, plans to invest $12 million in establishing a new business unit focused on AI computing infrastructure across Southeast Asia.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the company expects to deploy an initial $6 million by the end of 2026. TROOPS is currently assessing potential sites, partners and assets in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia, with Malaysia’s Johor region emerging as a key area of interest due to its rapid development.
Malaysia has established itself as one of the fastest-expanding data-centre markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Data from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority shows that MYR385.7 billion ($94.5 billion) in data-centre investments had been approved between 2021 and mid-2026.
Johor currently has approximately 850 MW of operational data-centre capacity, while another 1,800 MW is being built and 2,700 MW is in the planned pipeline. Across Malaysia, total data-centre capacity is expected to reach 2,055 MW by the end of 2026.
As part of its expansion plans, TROOPS is also exploring a potential future partnership with Texas-based Bfarms365. The collaboration could provide services including GPU rentals, AI inference and edge computing.
TROOPS chief executive Damian Thurnheer said Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, is increasingly becoming an important base for expanding computing capacity across Asia. He added that the new initiative could build on the group’s existing technology activities.
