Technologies

SK Hynix Reports Record Q1 Earnings, Aligning With Expectations as Memory Costs Rise

SK Hynix reported record first-quarter profits, aligning with analyst expectations, as surging AI demand drives memory prices higher. The company’s HBM technology continues to dominate the market, though competitors are closing the gap.

On Thursday, South Korean semiconductor leader SK Hynix announced another quarter of record-breaking profit and revenue, driven by soaring product prices fueled by robust artificial intelligence demand. Although its earnings broadly matched analyst expectations, total revenue fell slightly short of forecasts.

Below is a comparison of SK Hynix’s first-quarter performance against LSEG smart estimates, which prioritize forecasts from consistently accurate analysts:

Revenue: 52.58 trillion won ($35.55 billion) compared to 53.55 trillion won
Operating profit: 37.61 trillion won compared to 37.92 trillion won

Revenue for the March quarter nearly tripled compared to the same period last year, marking the first time it surpassed 50 trillion won.

Operating profit increased fivefold year-over-year and nearly doubled from the previous quarter, while the operating margin hit an all-time high of 72%.

SK Hynix shares rose approximately 2.5% in early trading in South Korea.

SK Hynix produces memory chips used for data storage, which are found in devices ranging from servers to smartphones and laptops.

The company credited its record earnings to rising memory prices and booming artificial intelligence demand, with SK Hynix serving as the world’s leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI data centers.

“Despite the fact that the first quarter is typically a seasonal downturn, strong demand persisted due to expanded investments in AI infrastructure,” the company stated in its earnings release.

SK Hynix noted that as artificial intelligence shifts from large-scale model training to agentic AI, which repeatedly performs real-time inference across various service environments, the foundation for memory demand continues to expand.

“The importance of memory has become greater than ever … IT companies now view securing volume as more important than price,” an SK Hynix executive said in an earnings call on Thursday.

SK Hynix’s HBM technology falls under the broader category of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a type of semiconductor memory used to store data and program code found in PCs, workstations, and servers.

SK Hynix has gained an edge over rivals like Micron and Samsung in the DRAM market, thanks to its early lead in HBM and its role as a key supplier to Nvidia, the world’s leading AI processor maker. However, competitors have been working to close the gap.

Samsung Electronics announced in February that it had started shipping its most advanced HBM4 chips to unnamed customers, after SK Hynix began delivering its HBM4 samples in March 2025. Shares of Samsung Electronics hit a new intraday record of 227,000 on Thursday.

HBM4 is the sixth generation of HBM technology and the most advanced version to date. It is expected to be the main AI memory chip used in Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin architecture, designed for powerful AI workloads in data centers.

Samsung reclaimed the top spot in DRAM revenue in the last three months of 2025, according to data from Counterpoint Research, though SK Hynix continued to dominate in HBM with a 57% market share.

Counterpoint added that the DRAM market has recorded 30% quarter-over-quarter growth for two consecutive quarters due to rising memory prices.

Rising memory prices have resulted from surging demand for HBM, which has occupied manufacturers’ capacity, triggering a broader memory shortage in recent quarters.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won reportedly stated in March 2026 that the global chip wafer shortage is likely to persist until 2030, as demand for HBM continues to outpace supply and strain manufacturing capacity.

He added that building additional wafer supply could take at least four to five years, with a projected shortfall exceeding 20%.

SK Hynix has been actively expanding its production capacity to meet the demand for AI. The company on Wednesday reportedly announced plans to invest 19 trillion won in a new manufacturing plant in South Korea.

MS Hwang, a research analyst at Counterpoint Research, told Verum that first-quarter results from memory companies “show strong profitability and reveal that a lot more memory is needed for AI inference than expected, with companies rushing to secure supply.”

Even if the upward trend in memory prices slows in the second half of the year, SK Hynix’s profits could continue to rise throughout this year, he added.

However, the company could face some headwinds if the conflict in the Middle East extends beyond the second quarter and becomes prolonged, further disrupting the supply of essential materials for semiconductor manufacturing, such as helium.

Such a scenario could have a critical impact on the entire AI supply chain, Hwang said, although it is not expected to become a long-term issue.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im