Asia’s First Trading Day of 2026: AI Chips Steal the Show While Bitcoin Flatlines
Asian markets surged on the first trading day of 2026, driven by massive gains in AI chip stocks, while Bitcoin remained stagnant.Summary
Asian equity markets began 2026 with strong gains, primarily fueled by the semiconductor and AI sectors. Shanghai Biren Technology, a Chinese GPU startup, more than doubled its value on its Hong Kong debut, sparking an AI chip frenzy. This momentum was further supported by Baidu's Kunlunxin filing for a Hong Kong IPO, signaling China's continued push for domestic chip alternatives amid US restrictions. South Korea's KOSPI index hit an all-time high, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix soaring on strong HBM demand and optimistic analyst projections. Similarly, Taiwan's TSMC saw gains as its aggressive 2nm investment strategy showed signs of rapid success, potentially surpassing previous process node revenues quickly. In contrast to the equity market exuberance, Bitcoin lagged significantly, posting only a modest gain and remaining range-bound, highlighting a market focus shifting towards AI-driven traditional tech over cryptocurrencies at the start of the year.
(Source：BeInCrypto)