According to people familiar with the matter, Northern Data AG is in talks with potential advisers about a joint venture for its artificial intelligence cloud computing and data center businesses for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, which could be valued at up to $16 billion. The company has invited several potential advisers to bid and could name a lead bank in the coming months, according to people familiar with the matter. Under current plans, Northern Data could list on Nasdaq as early as the first half of next year - an entity comprising its cloud computing business, known as Taiga, and data centre, known as Ardent, they said. The bank is proposing a valuation of about $10 billion to $16 billion for the unit, according to people familiar with the matter. Northern Data may also sell a minority stake in the unit to investors before listing, the people said. People familiar with the matter said the deliberations were ongoing, details could change and the company could decide not to proceed with strategic options under consideration. A representative for Northern Data declined to comment. According to a statement from the company in May, Peak Mining, the company's U.S. bitcoin mining arm, currently has nearly 700 trillion watts of data centers under construction or development. This would make it one of the largest cryptocurrency mining companies in the United States.