Crypto Plunge, Global Stocks Retreat, AI Demand Stays Strong

1. Bitcoin tumbled 5.5% and Ether fell 3.5%, triggering over $1 billion in liquidations across the network in the past 12 hours.
2. Major stock indices in Asia (Nikkei, KOSPI, Singapore) and European futures (Eurostoxx, DAX, FTSE) showed weakness, while Shanghai nickel futures also slid over 3%.
3. TSMC's CEO highlighted robust demand for advanced semiconductors driven by the adoption of generative and agentic AI models, despite concerns over rising component costs.