SpaceX to acquire AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion

What happened

SpaceX has agreed to buy Cursor, an AI-powered coding tool founded in 2022, in a $60 billion（約9.6兆円） stock deal. The acquisition is likely to close in the third quarter of this year. This follows an unusual April agreement where SpaceX either committed to buy Cursor at that price or pay a $10 billion（約1.6兆円） break-up fee.

Why it matters

SpaceX pitched investors on an AI-focused strategy during its IPO, claiming a total addressable market of around $28 trillion（約4500兆円）—with $26 trillion（約4200兆円） tied to AI. The company's AI division, built around Elon Musk's xAI unit, has been restructuring after controversies including allowing users to generate non-consensual deepfakes. Acquiring Cursor appears meant to shore up SpaceX's ability to deliver on those AI promises to investors.

What to watch

SpaceX's stock has risen from its IPO price of $135 per share to more than $200 per share in pre-market trading as of Tuesday morning, adding nearly $1 trillion（約160兆円） to its valuation in days. Cursor was previously on track to close a $2 billion（約3200億円） funding round at a $50 billion（約8兆円） valuation before SpaceX intervened.