China’s EUV Machine?

Dec 18, 2025 20m

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Episode Description

Has China cracked a major puzzle for chip parity? Trump Media merges with a… Fusion Energy startup? Coinbase continues its efforts to let you trade everything. OpenAI is turning on the fundraising afterburners. And how to catch a North Korean IT infiltrator. China may have reverse engineered EUV lithography tool in covert lab, report claims — employees given fake IDs to avoid secret project being detected, prototypes expected in 2028 (Tom's Hardware) Trump media group agrees $6bn merger with Google-backed fusion energy company (FT) Coinbase adds prediction markets and stock trading in push to be one-stop trading app (CNBC) OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at Valuation Around $750 Billion (The Information) Amazon Caught North Korean IT Worker By Tracing Keystroke Data (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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China's EUV Lithography Breakthrough

In a secret lab, China has reportedly built a prototype of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine, developed by a team of former ASML engineers who reverse engineered existing machines. This development could potentially bring China closer to chip parity, but the machine is still not capable of producing usable chips due to ongoing technical challenges.

Trump Media's Fusion Energy Merger

Trump Media is set to merge with TAE Technologies, a company backed by Google, in a $6 billion deal to establish the world's first utility-scale fusion power plant. This merger highlights the integration of politics and tech, with plans for the plant to generate power for AI and other energy-intensive needs.

Coinbase Expands Trading Functionality

Coinbase is evolving into a one-stop financial platform by rolling out new features including stock trading and prediction markets. CEO Brian Armstrong emphasizes that these advancements aim to democratize access to trading and improve market insights for users.

OpenAI's Fundraising Push

OpenAI is gearing up to raise between tens to potentially 100 billion dollars at a valuation of around $750 billion. The company is experiencing rapid revenue growth while forecasting significant cash burn as it invests heavily in talent and infrastructure.

North Korean Cyber Threats

Amazon's Chief Security Officer detailed how they identified a North Korean IT infiltrator using keystroke lag as a detection method. This case reflects growing cybersecurity concerns regarding North Korean actors exploiting remote job opportunities to fund their government.