First, let's understand what makes ASML special: • They make machines that make computer chips • Closest competitor is 10+ years behind • Complete monopoly on advanced chip tech • Every major tech company depends on them But here's what makes this story fascinating...

China spent $41B trying to copy this Dutch technology. They failed miserably. Now a tiny town in the Netherlands controls the: • Future of AI • US-China tech war • Every advanced military system The untold story of how ASML became the most critical company in tech 🧵:

ASML started in 1984 as a joint venture between Phillips and ASM International. For years, they were just another equipment maker. Then something changed everything: Researchers realized we were hitting the limits of chip manufacturing. Moore's Law was about to hit a wall.

Think about that: • 1960s transistors: Size of a pea • Today's ASML transistors: Size of DNA strands How did they pull this off? Through a breakthrough called Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUV). Sounds complex, but here's what matters:

Only ASML mastered it. China spent $50B and still couldn't replicate it. And now they control who gets access to the world's most advanced chip technology. The impact on global chip making is staggering: • TSMC (Taiwan) makes the world's most advanced chips on ASML machines

• SMIC (China) and others want this technology desperately • Every major semiconductor maker depends on these machines Basically, no ASML = No cutting-edge chips Think about the power this gives them:

Want to make iPhone chips? Ask ASML. Need advanced AI processors? Ask ASML. Planning next-gen semiconductors? Ask ASML. You get the point. And the numbers tell the story of this massive breakthrough:

• ASML's stock is up 300% since 2018 • Europe's most valuable tech company • Controls 90%+ of advanced chip market • One machine costs $200M+ But here's where it gets geopolitical... The US realized:

Whoever controls chip tech controls the future. Think AI development. Military capabilities. Economic power. So in 2023, the US made a historic move:

They convinced the Netherlands to restrict ASML from selling advanced tech to China. The impact was massive: • 140 Chinese companies blacklisted • Export controls expanded to include key software China's response? They called it "technological terrorism."

But they're caught in a trap. China can't match ASML's tech because they're 10+ years behind in development and have no alternative suppliers. But here's the fascinating part: While Holland blocks China's chip access, Rotterdam's port still gets 50% of its business from China.

This creates unprecedented leverage: • Control world's advanced chip tech → US ally • Control Europe's largest port → China dependency BOTH superpowers need Dutch cooperation.

Think about how insane this is: A company based in Veldhoven — a town of 45,000 people now determines: • Who gets next-gen technology • How fast AI can develop • Which nations lead in military tech So far, the Dutch are playing both sides masterfully.

Just like the 1600s when Netherlands controlled global trade, they're once again a secret superpower. But this time, instead of spice routes, they're controlling the silicon that powers our world. One of Europe's finest success stories. eu/acc 🇪🇺

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However, China steals piece of technologies using the most ancient method: many ASML engineers has young Chinese girlfriends and wives

1 van de grondleggers is de heer Kamerbeek, was toen hoofd op deze afdeling. Een afdeling van Philips, is jaren geleden zelfstandig gegaan onder boven genoemde naam. De heer Kamerbeek leeft gelukkig nog, met een goede gezondheid en is bijna 91 jaar.

Makes Elonia look like a kindergartner just learning how to color inside the lines. 😂

The take on precision is accurate, any tremor will disregulate things and it will take many weeks or even months to recalibrate. Taiwan, a major producer of semiconductors, suffered 2 earthquakes in 2 years, resulting in the delay of the production pipeline of Nvidia, AMD, etc...

Awesome!

good thread but this video is aids and gave me a headache, severely lacking bits

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