SK Hynix Inc. debuted on the Nasdaq at $170 per ADR after pricing its U.S. offering at $149, raising $26.5 billion in what Chairman Chey Tae-won called a "dream come true." The proceeds will fund new production facilities in South Korea and the acquisition of EUV lithography scanners essential for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

During a CNBC interview, Chey confirmed his team is evaluating U.S. sites for memory fabrication plants but emphasized stringent requirements: reliable power, clean water, available land, skilled workforce, and a robust supply-chain ecosystem. "If we find the right place in the U.S., then we'll do it," he said, adding that SK Hynix expects to deploy at least tens of billions of dollars across AI, data centers, related technologies, and startups.

Chey reiterated that a memory supply crunch persists, with pricing strategies customized per customer — some seeking price transparency, others price stability. He dismissed concerns about rising high-bandwidth memory competition, citing an "enormous" chip shortage driven by soaring AI demand. The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) and iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) have each surged roughly 134% over the past year.

The $26.5 billion haul signals aggressive capacity expansion, yet any U.S. fab commitment hinges on site selection meeting infrastructure thresholds that have stymied other foreign chipmakers. Investors should watch for location announcements and EUV tool delivery timelines as leading indicators of execution risk.