South Korean memory chip maker SK Hynix has pulled off something only one other domestic company has ever managed. Its market capitalisation broke past 2,000 trillion won, equal to roughly $1.32 trillion, on Friday. Samsung Electronics remains the only other Korean firm to have crossed that threshold.
The jump came as semiconductor stocks dragged South Korea’s Kospi index to a record close, with chipmakers driving nearly the entire session’s gains.
Stock Price Action
Trading opened at 2.77 million won for SK Hynix, a 3.17% jump from the prior close. The stock kept climbing through the session and touched an all-time high of 2,858,000 won. That move alone added enough value to push the firm’s total market worth to approximately 2,038 trillion won.
Samsung was not far behind in setting its own milestone. Shares broke above 370,000 won during the session, a fresh record for the company, taking its overall valuation to nearly 2,180 trillion won.
The rally also lifted the Kospi index itself above the 9,300-point mark for the first time, as investors piled into semiconductor heavyweights following a strong overnight session for US chip stocks.
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That buying spree pushed the combined market value of all Kospi-listed companies past 8,000 trillion won for the first time in the exchange’s history.
Where SK Hynix Now Stands Against Bitcoin
Users flagged the comparison on X, pointing out that SK Hynix’s valuation has now overtaken Bitcoin’s. As of 19 June, SK Hynix sat at $1.32 trillion against Bitcoin’s roughly $1.25 trillion.
🚨 SK Hynix has officially surpassed Bitcoin in market capitalization.
As of June 19:
📈 SK Hynix: $1.32T ₿ Bitcoin: $1.26T
The AI infrastructure trade continues to reshape global markets.#SKHynix #Bitcoin #AI #HBM #Semiconductors pic.twitter.com/V51DeA4oF2
— BlockchainSeoul (@Blockchainseoul) June 19, 2026
At the time, Bitcoin traded near $62,537, while Ethereum was priced around $1,692.
Why This Matters for Markets
The shift shows where investor money is flowing right now. Demand for AI infrastructure, particularly the high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI servers and data centres, has turned chipmakers like SK Hynix and Samsung into some of the most sought-after stocks globally.
For South Korea, having two companies in this valuation bracket is unprecedented. For crypto watchers, the episode is a reminder that capital is currently favouring AI-linked hardware stocks over digital assets, even against a backdrop of relatively stable Bitcoin prices.
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