Linera Launches Babbage Testnet

According to CNBC, the semiconductor sector has posted sharp declines this week. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 8% week-over-week and 17% month-over-month, potentially ending its three-month consecutive rally. Roundhill DRAM ETF dropped 17% this week, while the VanEck Semiconductor ETF fell 7%. UBS projects that earnings of Philadelphia Semiconductor Index constituents will rise 92% this year, with an additional 40% growth in 2027. Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, UBS Global Head of Equities, said demand for computing power remains higher than available supply, and supply chain capacity constraints are unlikely to ease significantly in the short term, so the firm remains bullish on the semiconductor sector. Barclays’ trading desk noted no signs of panic in current semiconductor trading, adding that recent sell-offs resemble passive deleveraging rather than a full-scale investor exodus. WSTS data shows the global semiconductor market is forecast to grow 90% in 2026 and another 27% in 2027. Industry sales rose 106% year-over-year in April, accelerating to 119% in May. However, Deutsche Bank strategist Maximilian Uleer expressed concerns about the industry outlook and its high market weighting. Wells Fargo’s Ohsung Kwon pointed out that semiconductor market sentiment has seen one of the sharpest declines in history over the past four weeks.

According to monitoring by Onchain Lens, a whale has shorted ESPORTS worth approximately $1.44 million, with an unrealized loss of around $442,000. The whale’s total assets on Aster amount to $5.67 million.

According to Lookonchain's monitoring, whale 0x66f8 has been continuously going long on Bitcoin (BTC), with its long position now expanded to 1,660 BTC, valued at approximately $107.36 million, and a liquidation price of $63,123.

According to a report by The Information, Oracle’s $16.5 billion AI super campus Project Jupiter in New Mexico has encountered environmental approval hurdles, forcing adjustments to its power supply plan and adding an estimated billions of dollars in extra costs. The 1,400-acre campus is primarily built to provide computing power for OpenAI, with a designed installed capacity exceeding 2 gigawatts. Oracle originally planned to construct its own natural gas power plant, but related permits have been stalled due to concerns over air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In April this year, the company switched to Bloom Energy’s natural gas fuel cells and adjusted its microgrid capacity to 2.45 gigawatts. Analysts estimate this plan will cost around $8 billion, billions more than the natural gas turbine alternative. New Mexico last week again rejected the proposed fuel pipeline route, and the state’s environmental department will hold a public hearing on the air permit on October 19. The local attorney general is also investigating allegations that residents’ names were used without their consent in project support letters. Oracle’s data center project in Wisconsin is also facing additional expenses. Local regulatory rulings may require Oracle, OpenAI, and Vantage Data Centers to bear the full cost of transmission line construction individually; Oracle says another financial guarantee requirement will add roughly $100 million in annual costs.

According to Lookonchain's monitoring, two newly created wallets sold 72 BTC worth $4.66 million, then opened a long position of 12,000 ETH with 20x leverage, valued at $22.4 million.

South Korea’s Ministry of Finance announced Sunday that it plans to allow foreign financial institutions to borrow the South Korean won via temporary overdrafts, and to use won-denominated bonds as collateral in financial transactions. These measures are part of incentive policies rolled out to boost the won’s adoption, with the goal of shifting the currency from a restricted domestic unit to a more globalized one. Since July 6, South Korea has extended trading hours for the USD/KRW market to a 24-hour system, marking a step toward opening its long-closed local currency. (Jinshi)