 Oil market flipped: WTI more expensive than Brent, and data centers are to blame What seemed impossible a year ago has become reality — American WTI is consistently trading higher than the benchmark Brent. And this is not a temporary glitch, but a structural shift. What happened? The growth in domestic consumption in the US from energy-intensive data centers has created a local oil deficit. Artificial intelligence and data centers are consuming more and more energy, and the traditional hierarchy of benchmark crude oils is breaking down. Brent is currently at $117.29 — up 14 points since the beginning of April. But behind this figure lies a paradox: Brent is rising in price but losing its status as the main global benchmark. Who is under threat? Kazakhstan. Its export grade is tied to Brent, and if the trend of weakening the European benchmark continues, the country will lose value on its oil. At the same time, Kazakhstan has invested $1.9 billion in its own data centers, creating additional domestic demand for energy resources. The market is experiencing a period where correlations that worked for decades are breaking under the pressure of technological demand. The price of oil now depends not on global benchmarks, but on regional imbalances. This trend is worth watching for anyone working with energy, investments, or planning a strategy for 2026-2027. → https://asibiont.com/