Fabricated Knowledge

An Interview with Wes Cummins, CEO of Applied Digital

Jul 9, 2024
Wes Cummins, founder and CEO of Applied Digital, shares his journey from tech investing to tech hardware. He discusses the company's significant pivot from blockchain to high-performance computing, emphasizing partnerships and innovations with NVIDIA. Wes dives into the importance of Power Utilization Efficiency in data centers, as well as the challenges of scaling power capacity amid supply chain issues. He sheds light on advanced cooling systems and their critical role in meeting the demands of hyperscale customers.
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ANECDOTE

From Public Shell To Bitcoin Buildout

  • Wes started Applied Digital from a public shell in 2020 and initially targeted GPU hosting for Ethereum with rapid investor demand.
  • China’s 2021 crypto crackdown forced a pivot to U.S. Bitcoin data centers, and they built 500 MW between 2021–2023.
INSIGHT

H100 And ChatGPT Sparked The Pivot

  • Applied shifted from Bitcoin hosting to high-performance computing (HPC) after recognizing GPU demand and higher power-density needs.
  • The NVIDIA H100 launch and ChatGPT accelerated demand, prompting new facility designs and cloud software.
ADVICE

Build For High Power Density

  • Design new builds for extremely high power density rather than retrofitting Bitcoin sites for HPC.
  • Future-proof facilities to accept rising rack power (50–150+ kW) and work with GPU vendors on layout.
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