China has achieved a significant breakthrough in semiconductor technology, with ChangXin Memory Technologies stating that it has advanced beyond Samsung and SK Hynix. According to Bloomberg, ChangXin’s President Cao KanYu recently disclosed plans to launch a new chip this year using a 4F² architecture. A company spokesperson confirmed the remarks. If verified, this milestone would indicate that ChangXin has surpassed both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in reaching the 4F² threshold—despite U.S. sanctions restricting its access to ASML’s most advanced equipment.
ChangXin has now delivered tangible progress in the next-generation DRAM architecture race, securing an early lead. However, the ultimate outcome will depend on mass production yield rates and customer certification. The news triggered a sharp decline across U.S. memory stocks, with Micron Technology dropping nearly 4% and SanDisk falling almost 6%. South Korea’s market fared worse: the KOSPI index plunged over 7% during trading, triggering circuit breakers; SK Hynix dropped more than 9%, while Samsung fell nearly 8%.
Elon Musk added further pressure on social media: “Once China masters the manufacturing process for a given product, its scale of production often exceeds the total output of the rest of the world combined. Lithium-ion batteries and solar panels are clear examples.” In reality, competitors are less concerned about ChangXin merely producing a prototype—they fear that if the company successfully scales up, it could drive prices down across the entire industry, as seen in photovoltaics and battery markets.
From a strategic standpoint, ChangXin’s recent achievement carries substantial significance. Operating under constraints imposed by U.S. restrictions on EUV lithography tools and advanced equipment access, ChangXin has circumvented traditional process barriers through architectural innovation. The 4F² design allows for feature size "retrogression" by one or two generations, enabling higher storage density on existing DUV fabrication lines. This effectively opens an alternative pathway amid technological blockades. Meanwhile, Samsung and SK Hynix are expected to begin 4F² mass production around 2028—roughly two years behind ChangXin.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878935459125255/
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