Recently, there’s been big news in the semiconductor industry: the government of a certain country has softened its stance—high-performance AI chips can be sold to specific markets, but with the condition that each transaction incurs a 25% fee. On the surface, this seems like a matter of tech trade, but in reality, it’s more closely related to the crypto world than you might think.

Let’s talk about the essence of this move. This isn’t simply about technological restrictions; it’s more of a “toll booth model”—if you want to cross my bridge, you have to pay the toll. Policymakers have clearly done the math: rather than a total ban with zero profit, it’s better to take a cut from each transaction. As a result, high-end chip export restrictions have quietly loosened a bit.

What does this mean for the computing power market? AI training and crypto mining are essentially competing for the same scarce resource—high-performance computing chips. There were calls to prioritize local tech companies’ chip supply, but now, with the policy easing, it’s like opening another window for the global computing power ecosystem. While the most advanced models are still restricted, chips at the H200 level already deliver considerable performance.

However, don’t get too optimistic yet. There are two pitfalls here:

Costs will rise significantly. The extra 25% fee won’t disappear into thin air—it’ll ultimately be passed on to buyers. Whether you’re in AI or running a mining operation, your chip purchase bill will get heftier.

Policy stability is questionable. This is clearly a stopgap measure by the current administration, with a strong transactional flavor. If the political winds shift or there’s a change in leadership, the rules could change at a moment’s notice.

So, how should ordinary investors respond? Here are a few suggestions:

Don’t blindly chase concept tokens. When news like this breaks, tokens related to AI and computing power might soar, but sentiment-driven rallies often come and go quickly.

Watch the mining hardware market closely. If you’re considering investing in mining, keep a close eye on the mining equipment supply chain. If chip supply increases, the price and delivery times of new mining machines may change.

Remember the core logic. Bitcoin’s value has never been about sheer computing power, but about decentralization and censorship resistance. The more complex the geopolitical game, the more dispersed the computing power becomes, which is actually beneficial for network security in the long run.

When the market is volatile, patience is worth more than impulsiveness. Take a clear look before making a move—it’s always better than just chasing the latest hype.