**The Turbulent 12 Months for US Semiconductors: A Year in Review**
2025 was a wild ride for the US semiconductor business. The yr was full of main administration modifications, altering dialogues round AI chip export controls, and a flurry of mergers and acquisitions. As we glance again on the yr that’s gone, it’s clear that the business is in for some thrilling instances forward.
**Nvidia’s Big Moves**
Nvidia had a phenomenal yr, culminating in file earnings in its third-quarter report. No doubt their $57 billion in income, a 66% enhance over the identical quarter in 2024, was a major shock. Their datacenter enterprise was the driving drive behind this growth.
However, Nvidia wasn’t the one firm making headlines. Groq, a rival chipmaker, secured a licensing cope with Nvidia in December. The deal noticed Nvidia acquire $20 billion in Groq’s property, in addition to employ its founder and president, alongside different key staff.
**A Shift in US AI Chip Export Controls**
However, not all was good for the business within the second half of the yr. In December, the US Division of Commerce made a shock reversal in its stance on AI chip exports to China. Nvidia and AMD have been allowed to promote their superior H200 chips to accredited clients.
**Intel’s New Processor and World Shift**
Intel made its personal splash in October with the announcement of its new Panther Lake processor, a key a part of its Intel Core Extremely processor household. Constructed on the corporate’s 18A semiconductor course of, this processor was manufactured solely in its Arizona fab manufacturing unit.
However it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Intel. The yr noticed a change in administration, started by the US authorities’s fairness stake within the firm. CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus stepped down after three many years, and a central engineering group was established.
**Tariff Rumors and Regulatory Headaches**
September noticed rumors emerge that the Trump administration would introduce tariffs on semiconductor corporations, requiring them to produce domestically produced chips equal to their worldwide exports. The potential penalties may have been significant.
**2026 and Beyond**
The yr nicely and actually behind us, we’re already seeing indicators of a brand new and thrilling yr forward. Keep tuned for our protection of the most recent developments within the US semiconductor business, as we discover what 2026 has in retailer for the business.
Supply: [Original article](https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/21/a-timeline-of-the-u-s-semiconductor-market-in-2025/)
