The forecast marks a reversal from Blackstone’s earlier view that Anthropic would earn investment-grade status before 2027.
Blackstone expects Anthropic to receive a high junk rating from credit rating agencies after the AI lab completes its initial public offering, according to a Financial Times report. Blackstone serves as anchor investor in a $63 billion deal that finances Anthropic’s chips, and the firm now forecasts a double B rating for the Claude maker.
Blackstone previously told investors that Anthropic would secure an investment-grade rating before 2027. The new forecast calls for a top-tier speculative grade, which signals higher risk to lenders. Anthropic filed to go public earlier this week after a year of large compute deals that worried investors.
A high junk rating would make Anthropic’s fundraising more expensive and would constrain the compute capacity that supports Claude and the lab’s business. Builders that depend on Anthropic’s models should track the lab’s financing terms because capital costs shape the lab’s ability to fund compute and run its business.
Blackstone’s forecast remains a prediction, and Anthropic and Blackstone declined to comment to TechCrunch. Operators should watch the IPO timeline, the eventual rating, and Anthropic’s next compute commitments for signals about funding pressure.
What matters
- Blackstone now expects Anthropic to receive a double B rating after the lab goes public.
- A high junk rating raises borrowing costs and narrows funding options for Anthropic’s compute buildout.
- Watch whether rating agencies confirm the double B grade once Anthropic prices its IPO.
Why it matters
Watch whether rating agencies confirm the double B grade once Anthropic prices its IPO.
This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by TechCrunch AI. Source reference: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/30/anthropic-expected-to-receive-high-junk-rating-from-credit-agencies-following-ipo-report-says/.
Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.