SK Hynix Raises $26.5 B in US IPO, Expands AI Memory Production

South Korean memory chip leader SK Hynix completed a secondary listing of American depositary shares on Nasdaq in July 2026, raising roughly $26.5 billion – the largest foreign IPO on the U.S. exchange and second‑largest ever in U.S. history. The proceeds are earmarked for capital expenditures, including construction of a new fabrication plant in Yongin, an advanced packaging and testing facility in Cheongju, and the purchase of extreme‑ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to boost high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) output.

SK Hynix commands a dominant share of the global HBM market (about 50‑64% depending on the quarter) and now generates roughly 65 % of its revenue from the United States, reflecting the concentration of AI‑infrastructure spending in that region. The company reports record revenues of about ₩97 trillion ($64 billion) for 2025, with net income of ₩42 trillion ($28 billion).

The IPO has spurred financial products such as STARTRADER’s SKHY CFD, and Korean regulators have tightened rules on leveraged ETFs that tracked the stock. Meanwhile, soaring memory prices and a DRAM shortage – dubbed “chip‑inflation” by SK Hynix’s chairman – continue to pressure consumer devices, prompting industry calls for expanded supply.

Overall, the capital raise aims to secure SK Hynix’s position in the AI‑driven semiconductor supply chain and address ongoing memory‑chip scarcity.