Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Intel used to be the godfather of chips, the company behind the processors powering most of the world’s computers. But in 2025, things took a turn that no one expected. The US government suddenly announced it had taken a 10% stake in Intel. No cash deal, no normal transaction — just a conversion of CHIPS Act grants into equity. Overnight, Washington became one of Intel’s largest shareholders, and investors were furious. The move raised bigger questions: why Intel and not NVIDIA, Apple, or Meta? Why would Trump use a law passed under Biden to pull it off? The answer lies in the Foundry War. Intel had fallen badly behind Taiwan’s TSMC, which controls over 70% of global chip manufacturing, while China has been pouring billions into its own semiconductor champions. Intel, once dominant, was bleeding cash, but still the only US company positioned to compete in manufacturing. That made them the obvious bet, even if it meant angering shareholders. This strange 10% stake says a lot about how far the US is willing to go to keep chips at home, and why semiconductors have become the new oil.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hariharan-jayakumar-silo
Instagram: instagram.com/hariharan.jayakumar
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intel Gets Bailed Out
0:34 - Bring it Home
3:29 - The Foundry War
8:18 - Shares of Power
Resources:
pastebin.com/wR9QU2PC
Intel used to be the godfather of chips, the company behind the processors powering most of the world’s computers. But in 2025, things took a turn that no one expected. The US government suddenly announced it had taken a 10% stake in Intel. No cash deal, no normal transaction — just a conversion of CHIPS Act grants into equity. Overnight, Washington became one of Intel’s largest shareholders, and investors were furious. The move raised bigger questions: why Intel and not NVIDIA, Apple, or Meta? Why would Trump use a law passed under Biden to pull it off? The answer lies in the Foundry War. Intel had fallen badly behind Taiwan’s TSMC, which controls over 70% of global chip manufacturing, while China has been pouring billions into its own semiconductor champions. Intel, once dominant, was bleeding cash, but still the only US company positioned to compete in manufacturing. That made them the obvious bet, even if it meant angering shareholders. This strange 10% stake says a lot about how far the US is willing to go to keep chips at home, and why semiconductors have become the new oil.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hariharan-jayakumar-silo
Instagram: instagram.com/hariharan.jayakumar
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intel Gets Bailed Out
0:34 - Bring it Home
3:29 - The Foundry War
8:18 - Shares of Power
Resources:
pastebin.com/wR9QU2PC
