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first_img In Q2 2026, the global semiconductor market reached 368 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 104%

According to SemiWiki, WSTS data shows that the global semiconductor market sales reached $368 billion in the second quarter of 2026, a quarter-on-quarter increase of 35% and a year-on-year increase of 104%, setting a new historical high. The growth is mainly driven by AI demand, with significant quarter-on-quarter increases from memory manufacturers, SK Hynix and Sandisk at 51%, Kioxia at 76%; Nvidia's AI processor business grew 18% quarter-on-quarter, and Broadcom is expected to grow 33% quarter-on-quarter.Kioxia and Sandisk rose to eighth and ninth place globally, respectively, with both companies' revenues growing more than four times year-on-year. Excluding major AI suppliers, the other top 20 semiconductor manufacturers only saw a quarter-on-quarter increase of 9%, with guidance indicating a total quarter-on-quarter growth of about 6% for the third quarter of 2026. The growth expectations for memory manufacturers in the third quarter have clearly slowed down.Based on the latest forecasts, the semiconductor market growth rate for the entire year of 2026 is expected to reach or exceed 90%, with Semiconductor Intelligence predicting a growth of 101% and RCD Advisors predicting 112%; in the storage sector, WSTS expects a growth of 249%, while Gartner predicts 280%. Most institutions expect the growth rate to fall back to the mid-20% range in 2027.

Viewpoint: The "Cryptocurrency Asset Regulation" proposal introduced by the U.S. SEC may not trigger a new wave of ICO frenzy

According to Cointelegraph, the SEC has released proposed rules for the "Regulation Crypto Assets," setting two exemptions for specific investment contracts involving crypto assets: allowing startups to raise up to $5 million in a one-time financing within four years; and allowing qualified issuers to raise up to $75 million within any 12-month period, with the possibility of conducting different rounds of issuance in subsequent years.Drew Hinkes, a partner at Winston & Strawn, stated that as long as each round of financing is an independent issuance, projects could theoretically raise $75 million every 12 months. Lilya Tessler, head of Sidley's fintech and blockchain practice, noted that subsequent financing is not automatically approved; issuers must resubmit offering documents, undergo SEC staff review, continuously submit annual and semi-annual reports, and disclose funds raised through the exemption in the past 12 months to confirm they have not exceeded the financing cap. The proposed rules also limit the participation scale of non-qualified investors, with their purchase amount not exceeding 10% of the higher of their personal income or net worth.Lee Reiners, a financial regulation expert at Duke University, indicated that the limited first-round cap may make early token allocations more attractive, but the rule is unlikely to replicate the ICO boom of 2017. Among projects that raised funds through ICOs from 2017 to 2019, as many as 90% ultimately failed.The SEC expects that approximately 130 issuances per year will utilize the above two exemptions, with about 475 issuers potentially using a broader investment contract safe harbor. The proposed rules will provide token issuers with a clearer path for financing in the U.S. compared to the current system, but secondary market trading may still exist in a gray area of securities attributes. The proposal stipulates that investment contracts related to crypto assets may continue to trade in the secondary market along with token transfers until the asset is separated from the issuer's statements or commitments.Drew Hinkes stated that if non-security tokens transfer investment contracts from seller to buyer, such transactions may still be considered securities transactions, impacting trading platforms. Lee Reiners also mentioned that some issuers may meet the formal requirements for exemptions but still influence token value through team management efforts, concentrated insider holdings, and aggressive promotion.

Bank of America: Active long-term funds sold off $44.4 billion in semiconductor stocks last month

On August 25, Bank of America data showed that actively managed long-term funds significantly reduced their holdings in global semiconductor stocks last month, selling approximately $44.4 billion, indicating that institutional funds are withdrawing from the most crowded AI trades. The flow of funds has shifted towards telecommunications, energy, materials, and grid modernization, reflecting a more noticeable redistribution within the AI theme.This set of data explains part of the recent market pressure. Ahead of NVIDIA's earnings report, the market still holds high expectations for AI demand, but semiconductor stocks have previously risen too much, and positions have become more concentrated. Once long-term interest rates rise, AI revenue expectations cool, or the return on capital expenditures for cloud vendors is questioned, the semiconductor sector will be the first to bear the pressure of position reduction. Bank of America also pointed out that the themes that funds sold the most in the past year include AI computing and quantum computing, indicating that funds have not completely left AI but are reducing exposure to highly crowded sectors.Bank of America expects that semiconductor stocks will continue to be influenced in the short term by NVIDIA's performance, cloud vendor guidance, and interest rate trends; in the medium term, funds may be more willing to allocate to sub-sectors such as electricity, equipment, networks, and storage that can share in AI infrastructure spending.

first_img The price of semiconductor silicon wafers has increased by about 10% for the first time in over three years, benefiting companies like GlobalWafers and other Taiwanese manufacturers

According to the Economic Daily, semiconductor silicon wafers have seen a significant price increase for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, covering the full range of specifications including 6-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch, with an increase starting at 10%. Industry insiders believe this is the first price adjustment in over three years, and major Taiwanese silicon wafer suppliers such as GlobalWafers, TSMC, and Hejian are expected to see improvements in revenue and profitability.GlobalWafers stated that recent demand in some end markets has gradually improved, inventory adjustments in the supply chain are healthier than in the past, and market signals are more positive than last year, but prices still depend on the product, specifications, and customer situations. TSMC mentioned that under cost pressures and demand support, they have begun communicating price adjustments with customers, and operations in the second half of the year are expected to outperform the first half. Hejian indicated that they are actively negotiating price adjustments with customers and continuing to promote advanced packaging and related products.Industry analysis suggests that this round of price increases mainly reflects the rebound in chip demand driven by AI, with increased usage in advanced and mature processes, allowing the upstream silicon wafer industry to gradually feel the recovery. Currently, the negotiation progress varies among factories and customers, with some 12-inch polished wafers already subject to new quotes with double-digit percentage increases, and discussions for 8-inch and 6-inch products are also moving in a similar upward direction.
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