Crypto investors in Asia woke to troubling news when South Korea's largest exchange confirmed it had lost 44.5 billion won, about $30 million, in a breach. The first signs were unusual transfers of Solana-based assets into an unknown wallet. Upbit immediately halted deposits and withdrawals and shifted its remaining funds to cold storage. The move contained the damage, yet it left millions of users locked out of their accounts with no ability to move funds.Control and custody in crypto depend on how blockchain systems are accessed.Credit: CryptoIn the broader landscape of crypto hacks, the scale here is smaller, but still significant. Earlier this year, the North Korean-led ByBit hack caused an estimated $1.5 billion in losses, while Coinbase was linked to another attack resulting in around $400 million stolen. Although Upbit's loss sits below those figures, it reinforces growing concerns about the fragility of centralized platforms.For many, the conversation has already moved past the incident itself. The real focus is what these events say about how digital assets should be stored and who should hold the keys.A "Small" Hack With Big ImplicationsUpbit is a major exchange in a country where crypto adoption is high, so users rely on it not only for trading but also for storing assets long term. A breach of this size sends people back to a basic but crucial question: how much control do you actually have over your funds when a third party manages them? The temporary freeze on withdrawals made that question even sharper. Even if your balance remains untouched, it is not fully yours if you cannot access it when it matters most.Custodial Vs. Non-Custodial: What's Actually At StakeA crypto wallet is more than a place to store coins. It reflects who ultimately has authority over your assets. With custodial platforms, such as exchanges, the service provider holds the private keys. This arrangement feels smooth when markets are stable, but during a crisis, it becomes clear that your access depends entirely on the platform's systems and decisions.Non-custodial wallets reverse the dynamic. Whether hardware or paper, control stays with the user. No one can freeze withdrawals, limit access, or intervene. You set your own security standards, and you retain full autonomy over your assets at all times.Why Custodial Wallets Still DominateIf self-custody offers stronger ownership, why do most people still rely on custodial platforms? Convenience remains the biggest factor. Custodial services offer easy onboarding, fiat rails, instant trading, staking and yield products, and recovery options for lost passwords. For newcomers, or for anyone who values simplicity, these advantages are hard to ignore.The trade-off is structural risk. Centralized platforms collect massive amounts of value in one place, which makes them appealing targets. Hackers do not need to attack thousands of users individually; one breach can expose an entire exchange. Even when funds are protected, the response often involves pauses, queues, and uncertainty. Users may avoid losses, but they give up control.What Non-Custodial Wallets Solve (And What They Don't)Non-custodial solutions eliminate platform risk entirely. If an exchange collapses, freezes withdrawals, or suffers a breach, your assets stay protected because they never leave your own custody. Users also gain seamless access to decentralized exchanges and DeFi ecosystems, along with cross-chain flexibility.Still, independence introduces new responsibilities. Managing your own keys requires discipline. A phishing link, a compromised browser extension, or an accidental approval can wipe a wallet instantly. There is no support hotline and no way to reverse a mistake. Non-custodial ownership reduces systemic risk, but it raises personal execution risk. That is not a reason to avoid self-custody. It is a reason to take it seriously.The Practical Middle GroundMost users end up blending both approaches rather than choosing one. A balanced setup usually looks like this:Custodial wallets for frequent tradingNon-custodial wallets for long-term storageCold storage for high-value holdingsThis approach accepts that convenience and sovereignty do not always align. Each user must decide where to draw the line based on their needs, habits, and risk tolerance.Final WordThe Upbit breach adds another reminder that crypto remains a target-rich environment for increasingly sophisticated attackers. There is little indication these incidents will slow down, so users should assume that even major institutions can fail.The safest strategy is to match your custody choices to your goals. If you trade often, some custodial exposure is reasonable. If you hold assets for long periods, there is little upside in keeping them on an exchange where you accept risk you cannot control.A simple rule applies. If losing access to your funds would create real problems, self-custody is not optional. It is essential.

Bitcoin's core infrastructure is continually being re-engineered with each Bitcoin blockchain upgrade. Consequently, these upgrades alter how Bitcoin is traded and how it moves throughout the market. Recent changes to the Bitcoin protocols have brought about shifts in the costs, speeds, and security of transactions, prompting market actors to reassess and reposition. The blockchain of Bitcoin is always in a state of refinement, and its underlying technology continues to strive for scalability, efficiency, and sustainability. But these upgrades entail much more than an optimization of code, as they can result in real-market reactions, influence trading volumes, and shift investor sentiment. This year, with improvements in the protocol, technical aspects have become a core factor that drives market dynamics. This article will examine recent blockchain developments, how updates on the network influence trading activity, why markets may react in a particular way, and what wider adoption trends indicate about Bitcoin's future. Recent developments in blockchain technologyThe Bitcoin network has undergone a number of key upgrades aimed at improving transaction throughput, reducing fees, and offering greater flexibility for future scaling. Perhaps the most salient consequence of these enhancements pertains to how they affect trading-most notably when market participants check the bitcoin price today. By utilizing publicly available APIs and exchange data, traders can track real？time price, volume, and volatility to better gauge how protocol changes feed into market conditions. In a similar vein, upgrades such as Taproot or further layer？2 enhancements will continue to drive faster validation and more efficient block propagation. These changes significantly enhance the network's value proposition and can have a measurable effect on the way users interact with Bitcoin.How network upgrades influence Bitcoin tradingUpgrades create short-term volatility from how developers propose upgrades and how it influence different market actors. For example, do block efficiency upgrades lower confirmation times and fee costs, and thus, encourage traders to reassess their positions?According to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, the Bitcoin network's efficiency continues to be a problem for market participants assessing the cost structure of transactions. Through modeling, the Centre explains the relationships, thus the reason trading volumes increase after an upgrade, as traders reposition from the expected upside.Upgrades also factor into liquidity; a set of upgrades to a protocol usually incites a spell of high trading activity across the markets; however, as the network's performance becomes more predictable, liquidity provision from the participants improves. Institutions expand their tranche sizes, retail users of the network adjust their trading sizes, and these change the order imbalance, order book depth, and spread.Market responses to protocol changesThe market response of Bitcoin to protocol changes may be nuanced, fusing technical optimism with risk awareness. Whenever there is an announcement or deployment of a major upgrade, it generates speculative trading whereby some actors buy in anticipation of long-term gains, while others hedge for possible delays or unintended issues. This has traditionally led to increased volumes and higher volatility as participants test whether the upgrade provides the touted benefits.After an initial disruption, markets settle down, but not always uniformly across all exchanges. Differences in technology adoption and node infrastructure often create divergence in how different exchanges price Bitcoin-especially when some platforms support new features sooner rather than later. With time, however, upgrades add to the resilience of the network and reinforce confidence in the development path taken by the blockchain. Trends in cryptocurrency adoption and investmentAdoption of Bitcoin and, more broadly, cryptocurrency is continuing to grow. According to global data from CoinLedger from mid？2025, approximately 562 million people globally now hold some form of crypto, which is roughly 6.8？per cent of the global population. This growth reflects not only increased retail interest but also broader institutional participation.Investment strategies increasingly reflect the technical trajectory of the network: As upgrades to the blockchain offer greater scalability and efficiency, investors signal demand for digital assets built on sustainable and performant protocols. On the exchange side, platforms are continuing to deploy tools-real？time analytics, risk？management dashboards and more responsive execution systems-to help traders gauge how technical changes might impact their portfolios.Institutional interest also responds to environmental and sustainability themes. Energy usage, consensus efficiency, and mining footprint have become increasingly linked to blockchain upgrades and investment sentiment. Ongoing research into electricity consumption and mining emissions continues to impact the way some investors value Bitcoin in the context of long？term ESG objectives. Future implications for Bitcoin trading and innovationThe pace of protocol development at Bitcoin suggests that upgrades will continue to play a leading role in its market story. The more efficiently the network can scale, the more transaction costs can shrink, and open up space for more entrants, both retail and institutional. Technical change will continue to drive market actors' responses, but over time, improvements in capacity and sustainability could stabilise the asset's financial profile. This upgrade is not limited to short-term trading effects only. Modifications made in technology transform one's viewpoint regarding Bitcoin as a digital unit: more expandable, effective, and better aligned with anticipated infrastructural priorities in the future.Knowledgeable changes in a protocol and their impact on trade and adoption trends, as the participants in the market comprehend them better, clarify Bitcoin's position in the rapidly changing world of crypto.

DBS Group and Ant International signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 13, 2025, that connects Singapore's PayLah! digital wallet to Alipay+'s global merchant network. The partnership connects PayLah! users to over 150 million payment points across more than 100 countries, representing one of the year's largest cross-border wallet integrations. The collaboration removes currency conversion friction and streamlines authorization for Singaporean consumers making international purchases.Singapore's digital infrastructure has expanded across fintech platforms, AI research facilities and smart-city systems. The country's regulated digital entertainment sector has grown in parallel, with platforms on the Singaporean online casinos list now providing substantial welcome bonuses, rapid withdrawal processing and extensive selections of real money gaming options. These developments reflect Singapore's broader push toward comprehensive digital services that operate within strict regulatory frameworks while maintaining high consumer standards.The DBS-Ant agreement goes beyond retail payments. Both parties confirmed they will explore near-instant remittance capabilities between DBS customers and Alipay+'s 1.8 billion user accounts. Current remittance systems in Asia typically require one to three business days for settlement, with fees that can reach 5-7% of transaction value. The proposed infrastructure could reduce settlement windows to seconds while lowering costs through direct wallet-to-wallet transfers that bypass traditional correspondent banking networks.DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta said the bank plans to embed financial services in daily activities instead of treating them as separate transactions. Ant International CEO Eric Jing said cross-border commerce in Southeast Asia has expanded faster than the payment systems that support it, and the partnership will close that gap.The Monetary Authority of Singapore has backed tokenization trials and distributed ledger experiments since 2022. Project Guardian and Project Orchid both tested programmable money and cross-border settlement on blockchain networks. DBS and Ant confirmed they will research blockchain-based tokenized deposits, a sign that Singapore's banks are preparing for scenarios where traditional systems work alongside decentralized technology.Singapore holds its spot as Southeast Asia's main financial hub through rules that push innovation forward but keep the system stable. Microsoft Research Asia set up its first Southeast Asian AI lab in Singapore in September 2025. Razer, which makes gaming hardware, said it will open an AI gaming development center in the city in October. Cloud providers and chip design companies did the same earlier this year, and created a setup where fintech, enterprise software, consumer electronics and digital services use shared infrastructure.The remittance component of the DBS-Ant partnership carries weight for regional labor markets. Remittance flows within Asia hit $280 billion in 2024, based on Asian Development Bank figures, and Singapore, Malaysia and the Gulf states sent most of those transfers. High transfer fees and slow settlement have limited what families can do with remitted funds, and people often wait several days before they can access money sent for urgent needs.The instant remittance system could change how small and medium-sized enterprises handle cross-border working capital if it scales up successfully. Companies with operations in several Southeast Asian markets keep different banking relationships in each country to process local payments, and this setup creates extra costs and makes operations more complicated. Direct wallet transfers would let businesses settle invoices and pay suppliers without duplicate treasury infrastructure.The partnership builds on existing QR code payment standards that Alipay+ has deployed across Asia. DBS will integrate these capabilities into PayLah!, which currently serves over three million users in Singapore. The bank has not disclosed specific timelines for the merchant network expansion or the remittance features, stating only that both will roll out in phases.

Seoul, December 18, 2025 – SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it has become the first in the industry to complete the Intel Data Center Certified process to apply 256GB DDR5 RDIMM1 - a high capacity server module based on 32Gb fifth-generation 10nm-class (1b) DRAM - to Intel Xeon 6 platform.As an Intel Data Center Certified system/platform, 256GB DDR5 RDIMM has completed extensive testing and rigorous validation by Intel's Advanced Data Center Development Laboratory, and is now the industry's first server module verified to provide reliable performance, compatibility and quality when combined with Intel Xeon processors. SK hynix has previously obtained similar validation in January this year for its 16Gb fourth-generation 10nm-class (1a) die-based 256GB product.By becoming the first in the industry to validate compatibility with Intel's latest server platform, SK hynix is demonstrating technological leadership in high-capacity DDR5 modules. Based on this, the company will expand cooperation with major global data center operators and continue to lead the next-generation memory market in response to rapidly increasing demand from server customers.In this new AI-driven infrastructure environment, memory has emerged as a critical determinant of performance. As AI inference models evolve beyond generating simple response to performing complex logical processes, the volume of data that must be processed in real time is growing exponentially. To manage these massive data sets swiftly and reliably, high-capacity and high-performance memory has become indispensable - driving a sharp increase in market demand.The company anticipates its latest product to be the ideal solution to meet this growing demand. Servers equipped with the new module deliver up to 16% higher inference performance compared with those using 32Gb die-based 128GB products. In addition, by utilizing 32Gb DRAM chips, the design achieves up to approximately 18% lower power consumption than previous 256GB products based on 16Gb 1a DRAM. With this improved power efficiency and outstanding performance per watt, the company expects strong interest from data center customers."We are now able to respond more swiftly to customer needs, solidifying our leadership in the server DDR5 DRAM market. As a full-stack AI memory creator, we will actively address the growing demand for high-performance, low-power, and high-capacity memory solutions to further enhance customer satisfaction." said Sangkwon Lee, head of DRAM Product Planning & Enablement at SK hynix."This achievement represents the culmination of collaborative engineering efforts across Intel and SK hynix and demonstrates our shared commitment to advancing memory technology. The high-capacity module addresses the increasingly demanding requirements of capacity-hungry workloads of AI applications, enabling our customers to unlock new levels of performance and efficiency in their data center operations," said Dr. Dimitrios Ziakas, VP of Platform Architecture, Intel Data Center Group.

Taipei As generative AI, software-defined vehicles, and intelligent automation accelerate in parallel, semiconductors are shifting from component suppliers to a critical foundation for intelligent systems in the physical world. At the recent 2025 NXP Technology Summit held in Taipei, NXP had focused on three major application pillars, AI, IIoT, and automotive electronics, working closely with Taiwan industry partners to bring smart technologies into real-world deployments.NXP as a System Platform Enabler Building a New Foundation for Smart Applications with AI × Edge × SDVRobert Li, Executive Vice President and General Manager of BL Greater China for NXP Semiconductors, noted in his keynote that the semiconductor industry follows a ten-year growth cycle, from PCs and smartphones to the current wave driven by automation, cloud computing, and Edge AI.By 2030, the market is expected to reach USD1.3 trillion. As data generated by edge devices continues to surge, sending everything back to the cloud would create bottlenecks in bandwidth, energy consumption, and latency, making real-time decision-making difficult. As a result, AI must move from the cloud to the edge.He further pointed out that AI is evolving from perceptual and generative stages toward a new era of Agentic AI and Physical AI, with applications in factories, autonomous driving, robotics, and energy systems at scale. To address this shift, NXP has transformed from a chip supplier into a system-level platform and ecosystem provider, integrating compute, connectivity, power, and security architectures. Through key acquisitions such as TTTech Auto, Aviva Link, and Kinara, NXP has strengthened its SDV(software-defined vehicles) and Edge AI capabilities while deepening Taiwan's strategic role in global R&D and application deployment.Stefan Poledna, CEO and CTO of TTTech Auto, stated that after joining NXP, TTTech Auto can more efficiently drive SDVs from concept to production-ready, system-level implementation. With more than a decade of experience in automotive software, system integration, and functional safety, the company has built a team of nearly one thousand engineers. Its software has been deployed in over five million vehicles, with more than sixteen million project instances under ongoing development, serving major automakers across Europe and Asia.Its capabilities span SDV core software, functional safety and cybersecurity services, as well as hardware reference designs supporting heterogeneous multi-chip architectures. These are deeply integrated with NXP automotive platforms to enhance overall system scalability. Based on this architectural approach, TTTech Auto has contributed its technical strengths to the NXP CoreRide system-level platform.As generative AI, intelligent automation, and vehicle electrification continue to advance, global computing is shifting from the cloud back toward edge nodes closer to real-world environments, driving devices from being merely connected toward becoming autonomous. Luca Difalco, Senior Vice President of Global Channel Sales and Industrial Solutions at NXP Semiconductors, noted that the industry is moving from smart devices to autonomous intelligent edge systems with sensing, reasoning, and action capabilities. Where early devices relied on cloud-based decision-making, today's systems can perform AI inference at the edge under low power conditions and respond in real time, enabling truly deployable intelligent applications.In this context, he explained that NXP's core mission is not to expand cloud computing power, but to build Intelligent Nodes that can be deployed at scale, allowing AI to be realized in vehicles, factories, buildings, and healthcare environments. The value of AI lies not in model size, but in whether edge systems can perform timely inference and take the right actions. However, Edge AI involves sensing, power, security, connectivity, and data management, making integration far more complex than traditional embedded design.To address this, NXP adopts a modular, stackable architecture to simplify complexity and has established a tiered hardware platform spanning MCX and S32K MCUs to i.MX MPUs, gateways, zonal, and central compute, combined with Kinara NPUs for smooth scalability based on performance needs. On the software side, NXP provides a unified development workflow through eIQ and Time Series Studio, enabling even non-AI specialists to deploy models quickly, while building trusted AI foundations with Root of Trust, Secure OTA, post-quantum cryptography, and AI bias detection.Industrial IoT and Smart Mobility Tracks Reveal the Complete Path to AI DeploymentBeyond the keynotes, the summit featured two major tracks, Smart Industrial and IoT and Smart Mobility, led by NXP technical experts. These sessions comprehensively showcased NXP's technology roadmap across edge computing, connectivity, security, and AI, linking industrial, IoT, and automotive applications and illustrating the full evolution of future intelligent systems from perception to inference and action.The Smart Industrial and IoT track began by outlining how the industrial market is rapidly shifting from automation toward software-defined systems. Equipment now requires real-time computing, reliable connectivity, and higher energy efficiency to support the long-term evolution of smart factories and intelligent infrastructure. The NXP team further analyzed its MCU, MPU, connectivity, and AI NPU portfolio, demonstrating how scalable modular architectures reduce integration complexity and enable developers to move from design to deployment in shorter timeframes.In AI applications, NXP showcased practical deployments of generative and autonomous AI in industrial control equipment and IoT nodes, enabling devices to collect data, perform inference, and make on-site decisions without relying on the cloud. Experts also introduced next-generation intelligent power solutions that improve system efficiency and operational reliability, along with NXP's latest wireless connectivity technologies that ensure stable communication in high-noise, large-scale industrial networks. Applications span medical devices, smart buildings, humanoid robots, and industrial automation, all centered on edge computing, sensor fusion, and high-reliability connectivity.Finally, the team presented a comprehensive Edge Lock security strategy, providing protection from system boot to data exchange, covering OTA updates, helping enterprises maintain long-term trusted security foundations while scaling IoT deployments.In the Smart Mobility track, NXP brought together experts in automotive electronics, connectivity, and AI to provide an in-depth analysis of smart mobility trends and system architectures. The session began with market insights into the acceleration of vehicle electrification, electronics integration, and software-defined vehicles, followed by NXP's holistic solutions across sensing, control, connectivity, and security.New-generation automotive platforms such as S32K5 and CoreRide were then introduced, highlighting how scalable architectures, functional safety, and software reusability support rapid SDV iteration. As AI continues to penetrate in-vehicle edge nodes, experts demonstrated edge inference applications in driver monitoring, environmental perception, and behavioral decision-making, and explained how i.MX processors combined with wireless connectivity are advancing in-vehicle infotainment and intelligent cockpits.To address vehicle connectivity and high-speed data exchange demands, the session also explored the latest automotive Ethernet roadmaps and the high bandwidth and low latency advantages enabled by NXP's 10Gbps Ethernet switches. On electrification, X-in-1 integration solutions and 48V power conversion technologies were presented, underscoring the importance of efficient power management in future EV architectures. Overall, the track covered computing, connectivity, AI, security, and power architectures in a comprehensive manner, defining NXP's core position and forward-looking vision within the smart mobility ecosystem.In addition to keynote and technical sessions, the summit featured more than seventy technology showcases from NXP, ecosystem partners, and sponsors, helping customers understand market trends while gaining deeper insight into how NXP enables the real-world deployment of advanced technologies.In summary, NXP demonstrated how edge intelligence moves from concept to large-scale deployment through comprehensive computing platforms, trusted security architectures, and cross-industry application examples. Whether in industrial IoT, smart mobility, or emerging autonomous systems, the key lies in bringing AI into real-world environments with higher efficiency, lower power consumption, and greater predictability. As Taiwan's influence across technology and ecosystem value chains continues to grow, NXP will keep working closely with local partners to drive the next phase of global edge intelligence adoption.Credit: NXP

As artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing continue to accelerate worldwide, industrial displays are undergoing a significant transformation. Once regarded merely as passive terminals for visual output, displays have now become intelligent interfaces that connect human–machine interaction, data visualization, and real-time decision-making across diverse smart environments. From collaborative robots and medical systems to EV charging stations, automated factory lines, and self-service kiosks, industrial displays increasingly serve as the first point of contact between AI-driven systems and users, directly influencing operational efficiency, system reliability, and brand perception.Multi-Scenario Demand Accelerates Industrial Display EvolutionAcross factories, medical equipment, and retail environments, the role of industrial displays has expanded far beyond simple information presentation. Autonomous mobile robots and unmanned transport vehicles rely on displays for real-time navigation feedback. Medical diagnostic equipment requires precise visualization to support AI-assisted analysis. Self-service kiosks integrate touch interfaces, sensing, user identification, and edge computing to deliver responsive, data-driven interaction.  According to Roger Ma, Director of Advantech's Industrial Display Solutions Business Unit, industrial sectors exhibit vastly different display requirements. Medical environments demand high accuracy and easy-to-clean designs; outdoor EV charging stations require high brightness and durable weather-resistant builds; robotics and automation systems prioritize responsiveness, stability, and seamless user interaction. These increasingly differentiated use cases are driving industrial displays toward greater flexibility, durability, and customization—creating new growth momentum for the market.Sector-Driven Strategy Accelerates Customization and InnovationAs industrial applications become more complex, a key challenge is integrating display hardware with edge AI, image processing, and intelligent computing. Backed by extensive cross-industry expertise, Advantech adopts a sector-driven strategy, enabling the company to deeply understand the operational challenges of autonomous systems, robotics, factory automation, medical diagnostics, and retail environments. This approach allows Advantech to deliver display solutions tailored to specific industry demands and expedite deployment.Roger Ma pointed out that a major competitive strength lies in Advantech's Design To Order Service (DTOS) capabilities. Its in-house R&D teams cover the entire design spectrum, including mechanical and optical engineering, electronic and software development, touch-bonding integration, assembly precision, and picture-quality tuning. This vertically integrated capability enables stronger quality control and significantly accelerates development cycles.Advantech further enhances customer responsiveness through agile supply chain management and regional manufacturing, enabling rapid customization and efficient adoption of new technologies such as miniLED backlighting. Looking forward, the company is advancing the integration of edge-AI capabilities directly into displays, including embedded cameras, microphone arrays, and sensor modules to support intelligent video conferencing, AI-enabled recognition, and real-time decision-making. With these advancements, displays are evolving into intelligent front-end nodes capable of analysis rather than merely presentation.AI-Enabled Applications: Real Deployment across Factory and Retail EnvironmentsAdvantech's industrial display technologies are already demonstrating real-world impact across multiple vertical markets. In robotic palletizing systems, Advantech's 12.1-inch WXGA (1280 × 800) industrial display serves as the primary interface for complex robotic operations. Offering 400-nit brightness, wide 160/160° viewing angles, and responsive PCAP touch, the display ensures clear visibility and intuitive control even in demanding factory environments.For real-time information visibility on the production line, Advantech deployed the 55-inch VUE-55 digital signage solution, configured as a 2×2 video wall to create a 110-inch large-format display. With a robust design supporting 50,000 hours of LED lifetime and 24/7 continuous operation, the solution delivers reliable performance for critical factory data.In retail environments closely connected to consumers' daily lives, Advantech's technologies also play a critical role. The 850-nit high-brightness, optically bonded IDP31-101W display enhances the touch experience and durability of intelligent cleaning robots. Meanwhile, the VUE-2238 anti-glare touch display provides flexible landscape and portrait installation options for self-service ordering kiosks and hotel counters. Its IP65 front-panel water- and dust-resistant design, along with its color accuracy, not only improves product reliability but also effectively strengthens brand image.Global Reach and Cross-Platform Integration as Key AdvantagesDisplays serve as the critical bridge connecting humans and machines, as well as data and decision-making. In the era of AI and edge computing, industrial displays are shifting from simple information output devices to core interfaces that drive digital transformation and create business value. According to Roger Ma, the competitiveness of Advantech's display product line stems from the company's unique strengths, including its expertise in multi-platform system integration and its extensive cross-industry experience. These capabilities enable Advantech to deliver complete solutions that go beyond standard display products and integrate seamlessly into customers’ overall application ecosystems.Looking ahead, Advantech will continue to provide high-reliability, rapid-deployment intelligent display solutions for global customers. With stronger edge-AI integration and enhanced customization capabilities, the company is poised to lead industrial displays into a new stage of development.Advantech's Industrial Display Solutions.Credit: Advantech

Taipei, Taiwan (December 2, 2025) – ASRock Industrial made its mark at FIDO Taipei Seminar, presenting a keynote on Secure Device integration with FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) deployment technology, demonstrating how automated, trusted, and scalable onboarding is transforming industrial edge AI. As the first industrial computer company in Taiwan to achieve FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) certification, ASRock Industrial continues to raise the bar for industrial cybersecurity. Backed by IEC 62443-4-1 and IEC 62443-4-2 certifications, the company delivers a security architecture that spans from product design and manufacturing to deployment, building an unbroken chain of trust at every layer.With its newly introduced Ai FDO solution, ASRock Industrial empowers enterprises to automate device onboarding and configuration from factory to field, reducing risk, accelerating deployment, and enhancing operational resilience. By merging secure device, verifiable trust, and zero-touch deployment, the company continues to push the boundaries of what's possible at the industrial edge, anchored by its leading industrial cybersecurity platform and in collaboration with ecosystem partners, driving transformation across smart manufacturing, smart retail, smart cities, and other critical infrastructure industries.Security Engineered into Every Layer – Secure Device + FDO DeploymentBuilt on the foundation of the FDO trust chain, ASRock Industrial strengthens security across every layer – from secure device to secure deployment, establishing a comprehensive secure edge AI platform that sets a new industrial cybersecurity standard for critical infrastructure.Secure Device: ASRock Industrial's Secure Device architecture delivers multi-layered, industrial-grade protection built on a hardware-rooted and boot-time chain of trust. Leveraging TPM, Secure Boot, and other trusted technologies, it protects data from boot to runtime through defense-in-depth. The architecture reinforces virtualization and I/O isolation, strengthens memory and code safeguards during runtime, and incorporates accelerated cryptography to secure stored data.It also provides a verifiable security baseline for automated deployment and remote management. Fully aligned with the FDO onboarding stages (TO0, TO1, TO2), it verifies device identity, keys, and configuration integrity, reducing tampering risks and establishing trusted readiness for the intelligent edge.  Secure Deployment: Taking trust beyond the device, ASRock Industrial advances security by integrating its Secure Device design with FDO deployment through the Ai FDO solution, developed in accordance with the FIDO Alliance standard. Upon first boot, devices can automatically connect to designated servers to complete authentication, registration, and deployment - shortening time-to-deploy and minimizing manual intervention and human errors. Supporting bare-metal FDO onboarding, Ai FDO combines cryptographic validation and anti-tampering mechanisms to ensure consistent and scalable secure deployment across both cloud and private environments.Certified for Global Standards, Driving FDO Adoption Across the Industrial EdgeASRock Industrial’s secure hardware platform is certified under multiple international standards, including IEC 62443-4-1 (Secure Product Development Lifecycle Requirements) and IEC 62443-4-2 (Technical Security Requirements for IACS Components). Every stage - from design and development to testing - undergoes rigorous risk assessment and security validation to ensure compliance and resilience.As the first industrial computer company in Taiwan to achieve FDO certification, ASRock Industrial strengthens its leadership in trusted and verifiable edge AI platforms. Beyond product certifications, the company continues to enhance secure applications, supply chain transparency, and incident response capabilities - establishing multiple-layer defenses across device, deployment, and operations.At the FIDO Taipei Seminar, ASRock Industrial showcased its integrated Secure Device and FDO deployment solution that accelerates secure onboarding, reduces cyber risks, and ensures deployment consistency. James Lee, Chairman of ASRock Industrial, stated: "Industrial cybersecurity is the new baseline for intelligent edge computing. With field-proven expertise in secure edge AI, ASRock Industrial unifies secure device with FDO-driven deployment, aligned with international standards. Through zero-touch onboarding and a verifiable chain of trust, every device is protected from the first connection and runs reliably at scale - enabling enterprises to deploy faster, operate safely, and expand edge AI with confidence."For more information on ASRock Industrial's secure device and FDO deployment solutions, visit our Website or contact us via Product Inquiry.

Taipei, December 11, 2025: Dimerco Express Group ("Dimerco") has announced that it is strengthening its integrated, Asia-focused logistics solutions to help customers capture growth from AI and "Taiwan+, China+" manufacturing while managing risks from congestion, regulatory changes and shifting capacity.Air cargo shipment reflects growing Asia-to-US/EU demand.Credit: Dimerco"In 2026, the overall market outlook will be cautiously optimistic," said Catherine Chien, Chairwoman of Dimerco Express Group. "Ocean freight will not be driven by a sudden surge in demand, but rather by capacity imbalances and regional differences. At the same time, demand for high-tech, AI-related, and e-commerce shipments continues to drive growth in air freight from the Asia-Pacific region to North America and Europe. Our role is to integrate our ocean and air freight, contract logistics, and brokage and compliance resources to help customers build supply chains that are both secure and resilient."Freight market outlook: capacity is back, but complexity is higherOn the ocean side, new vessel deliveries and relatively stable bunker prices are being offset by structural bottlenecks. Major European hubs continue to face congestion, while Red Sea and Suez diversions still disrupt rotations and tie up ships and equipment.Regional tariff and carbon schemes are fragmenting cost structures. As a result, some Asia–Europe services have seen rates rebound from unsustainably low levels, even as several Transpacific lanes face softer demand and continued rate pressure. Global schedule reliability has recovered to around 65 percent but remains below pre-pandemic levels; for many shippers, booking at least three weeks in advance on key trades has become standard risk management. Overall, the 2026 ocean freight market is not defined by a demand boom, but by capacity often being in the wrong places and by strong regional differences.Airfreight tells a different story. Demand is driven by AI servers and semiconductor equipment, communications and electronic components, and resilient cross-border ecommerce. "Taiwan+, China+" manufacturing strategies are shifting production toward Southeast Asia and India, driving strong growth in air volumes from these origins-as well as from Taiwan-into North America and Europe. Following changes to US de minimis rules, some direct China–US e-commerce flows have decreased, but more cargo is now routed via alternative hubs and forward-stocking models, making trade lanes more diversified. Shippers that can flex between multiple lanes, multiple modes and multiple origin countries will be better positioned than those relying on a single country or mode.China+, Taiwan+ and tariffs: four logistics pain pointsManufacturers extending production from China into Southeast Asia, India or Mexico typically face four major challenges: Inadequate capacity at critical times, as port congestion, diversions and blank sailings reduce effective ocean supply even when the global fleet is large; Difficulty choosing a second warehouse or hub outside China that truly optimizes total landed cost-combining transport, duties, inventory and lead time with available government incentive schemes at each location; Limited knowledge of local regulations, customs requirements and tradecompliance rules; and Lack of practical experience managing complex factory relocations involving used machinery and oversized equipment.Dimerco's solutions: from capacity to complianceTo close capacity and lead-time gaps as more freight shifts from Southeast Asia to North America and Europe, Dimerco combines multi-modal options with consolidation through selected Asia gateways. This approach helps secure uplift for high-value cargo when local air capacity is tight, while preserving flexibility on routing and transit time.For manufacturers searching for a "second hub" outside China, Dimerco applies a structured assessment tool to compare locations across Southeast Asia. The analysis covers service levels, duties and taxes, regulatory and investment environment (including incentive schemes), transport infrastructure and labor. Using this framework, Dimerco has helped global customers select and launch warehouse hubs in markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, enabling more flexible inventory deployment between China and secondary locations and giving shippers more routing options as conditions change.Dimerco also supports complex factory and line relocations. In one case, a data-center and IT equipment manufacturer planned to move a production site from Singapore to Malaysia in 48 weeks; Dimerco completed the relocation in just 36 weeks by coordinating government liaison, customs-compliance advisory for used machinery and heavy-lift transport using a combination of low-bed and open trucks.With more than 45 years of operational experience in Southeast Asia, Dimerco helps foreign manufacturers navigate customs and regulatory environments through FTZ and bonded warehouses across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Southeast Asia, Mexico and the US. Dimerco's Expand to India Advisory Service allows customers to implement phased "Test – Trade – Manufacture" models, utilize FTZ and bonded policies to optimize duties and inventory placement, and reduce compliance risks in multi-country, multi-node supply chains.Building for AI-driven growth in 2026Dimerco's differentiation is centered on three areas: deep Asia presence, with around 130 owned offices across the region; a focus on high-value, time-critical freight in sectors such as semiconductors, electronics and aerospace; and consistent systems and quality, enabled by a secure, cloud-based global operating platform that connects air, ocean, customs, warehousing and distribution services."For our customers, 2026 is not about whether they will grow, but about how to grow safely under new tariff, compliance and capacity constraints," added Catherine Chien."By combining flexible multi-modal options-such as switching from sea to air for urgent shipments, or from air to sea for cost-sensitive cargo with controlled lead times-with strategic charter flight services, deep Asia expertise, integrated warehousing solutions and strong compliance advisory, Dimerco is ready to help customers turn AI, Taiwan+, China+ from buzzwords into real, executable opportunities."Catherine Chien, Dimerco Chairwoman.Credit: Dimerco

AIRoute Technology is a US-based AI startup building vertical AI agents that deeply understand domain data, workflows, and decision processes. The company's mission is to turn complex, information-heavy work into streamlined, intelligent workflows so professionals can focus on judgment, not manual processing.At the center of its portfolio is StockNews.AI, an AI agent platform for financial and market intelligence. Powered by advanced AI models, StockNews.AI continuously ingests large volumes of news, filings, and research, then delivers real-time alerts, concise summaries, and clear views of what has changed. It is designed to plug directly into the daily routines of analysts and investment teams-helping them cut hours of information sorting into minutes, standardize their research process, and respond faster with greater confidence.To serve enterprise customers, AIRoute Technology builds on Microsoft Azure as its core cloud platform and is expanding integration across the Microsoft ecosystem. Azure's security, reliability, and compliance foundation allows enterprises to deploy AIRoute Technology's solutions at scale while maintaining control over data and access. Through the Microsoft Startup Accelerator program, Azure Marketplace listing, and upcoming integrations with Microsoft 365 and Copilot on Windows, AIRoute Technology aims to bring its AI agents into the tools knowledge workers already use every day-so AI becomes a built-in assistant, not a separate destination.AIRoute Technology's approach has already earned international recognition. The company won 2nd place at the 2025 Erupture Global Hackathon in California, underscoring both its technical strength and its ability to translate advanced AI into practical products for real users.At the same time, AIRoute is actively stepping onto international business platforms. By bringing StockNews.AI to Singapore's SWITCH exhibition, the team is building new partnerships and exploring collaborations with leading enterprises and ecosystem partners. In 2025, AIRoute is running proof-of-concept projects with global companies to validate its AI agents in real-world, high-stakes environments. These POCs, combined with planned new funding, will support AIRoute's next stage of growth as it expands its advanced AI solutions across Asia and North America.AIRoute Technology brings StockNews.AI to 2025 Singapore SWITCH.Credit: AIRoute

In 1988, Japanese firms controlled 51% of worldwide chip sales, dominating memory production and manufacturing equipment. Fast forward to 2019, and that share had steadily declined to 10%, a stunning reversal that left the country dependent on foreign suppliers for critical technology.Fusion Worldwide: Japan's $65 Billion Bet: Inside the Government's Semiconductor Revival Plan.Credit: Fusion WorldwideBut 2025 marks a turning point. Armed with unprecedented government investment and strategic partnerships with global tech giants, Japan is mounting an ambitious comeback that could reshape the semiconductor landscape.The Decline: What Happened to Japan's Chip Dominance?The 1986 U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Agreement created challenges. Under pressure from Washington, Tokyo agreed to minimum chip prices and doubled foreign market access from 10% to 20%. These concessions immediately eroded Japanese competitiveness, allowing American, South Korean, and Taiwanese companies to capture market share.Meanwhile, Japan's economy entered the "Lost Decades" after 1990. Corporate investment dried up just as the industry shifted toward a specialized "fabless" model, where design and manufacturing separated. While TSMC pioneered contract manufacturing in Taiwan and Samsung built massive fabs in South Korea, Japanese firms clung to outdated integrated models, trying to do everything in-house.By the 2000s, legendary Japanese chipmakers like NEC, Hitachi, and Toshiba had consolidated and exited.The $65 Billion Comeback StrategyJapan's revival plan centers on massive government intervention. Between 2021 and 2025, Tokyo has allocated approximately $65 billion in semiconductor subsidies, representing a larger share of GDP than America's CHIPS Act.This funding targets three strategic pillars:1. Attracting Foreign Fabs: TSMC's Kumamoto facility, which began operations in 2024, received $8 billion in Japanese subsidies. The plant produces 12-28nm chips for automotive and consumer electronics, with a second fab targeting advanced 6-7nm production by 2027.2. Building Domestic Champions: Rapidus Corporation, backed by Toyota, Sony, and SoftBank, represents Japan's boldest bet. Partnering with IBM, Rapidus aims to mass-produce cutting-edge 2nm chips by 2027 at its Hokkaido facility, a feat only TSMC and Samsung have achieved. The government has committed $12 billion to this project alone.3. Strengthening Equipment Makers: Tokyo Electron, the world's third-largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer, continues receiving R&D support to maintain Japan's edge in critical manufacturing tools.The strategy also includes workforce development, infrastructure upgrades in semiconductor hubs like Kyushu and Hokkaido, and participation in the "Chip 4" alliance with the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan.Why This Matters GloballyJapan's semiconductor resurgence isn't just about national pride, it addresses critical vulnerabilities in the global supply chain.The 2020-2023 chip shortage exposed dangerous dependencies. When Taiwan made chips became scarce, Japanese automakers like Toyota lost production of 500,000 vehicles. With 75% of advanced chips manufactured in Taiwan, just 100 miles from mainland China, geopolitical tensions threaten the entire tech ecosystem.Japan's revival offers geographic diversification. Its partnerships with TSMC, IBM, and American firms like Micron (which received $3.6 billion for Hiroshima expansion) create alternative production nodes outside the Taiwan Strait flashpoint.Moreover, Japan retains formidable strengths. Companies like Sony control 50% of the global image sensor market, while Japanese firms dominate semiconductor materials—holding 88% of the coater/developer market and 53% of silicon wafers.The Road AheadJapan isn't just catching up, it's positioning for next-generation leadership. Rapidus's 2nm technology, if successful, will power AI computing and autonomous vehicles. TSMC's expanding Kumamoto operations are already attracting 44 supplier companies, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem.The critical test comes in 2027, when Rapidus targets mass production. Success would prove Japan can compete at the cutting edge. Failure would raise questions about whether even $65 billion can overcome decades of decline.One thing is certain, Japan is back in the semiconductor race, and this time, it's playing for keeps.(Article Sponsored by Olivia Seohyun Ju, Vice President of Sales, Korea/Japan, Fusion Worldwide)