Samsung Warns Global Memory Shortage Could Drive Up Prices Across All Devices

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Samsung struck a cautious tone during the celebrations at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, warning that worsening memory chip shortages could soon have real consequences for consumers. Speaking on the second day of the event, a senior company executive indicated that supply constraints are intensifying, potentially forcing Samsung to reconsider pricing across its product lineup. The message was clear: if the shortage persists, higher prices may be unavoidable.

The South Korean tech giant emphasized that memory components, particularly DRAM, are becoming increasingly difficult to secure. As these chips are essential for smartphones, laptops, wearables, and other everyday gadgets, prolonged supply pressure could ripple across the entire consumer electronics market. Samsung suggested that even a few more months of disruption could translate into noticeable cost increases for buyers worldwide.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Samsung President and Chief Marketing Officer Won-Jin Lee addressed the issue directly in an interview. He acknowledged that semiconductor supply challenges are no longer isolated problems but industry-wide concerns. While Lee stressed that Samsung is trying to shield consumers from rising costs, he also noted that the company’s ability to absorb higher expenses has limits.

Lee reportedly added that prices are already climbing behind the scenes, underscoring how serious the situation has become. The current shortage has been fueled largely by aggressive expansion from major artificial intelligence companies, including Google, Meta, OpenAI, and xAI, all of which are building massive data centers to support growing AI workloads. As demand from these players surges, consumer tech companies like Samsung are left navigating tighter supplies and difficult pricing decisions.

MSCI Drops Plan to Exclude Digital Asset Treasury Firms, Launches Broader Review

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Index provider MSCI said on Tuesday it will not move forward with a proposal to exclude digital asset treasury companies (DATCOs) from its indexes, opting instead to begin a wider review of how non-operating companies should be treated.

MSCI said it will maintain its current approach to firms on its preliminary DATCO list, defined as companies whose digital asset holdings account for 50% or more of total assets. As a result, Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin, will remain included in MSCI’s global benchmarks for now.

Shares of Strategy rose about 6% in after-hours trading following the announcement, though the stock remains down roughly 47.5% for 2025. The company welcomed the decision, saying in a post on X that MSCI had confirmed digital asset treasury companies would remain in MSCI indexes for the February 2026 review, calling it “a strong outcome for neutral indexing and economic reality.”

MSCI said feedback from investors highlighted concerns that some DATCOs share similarities with investment funds, complicating their classification. The index provider noted that distinguishing between investment companies and operating businesses that hold significant non-operating assets — such as digital assets held as part of core operations rather than purely for investment — requires further research.

“For instance, assessing index eligibility across a range of these types of entities may require additional inclusion assessment criteria, such as financial-statement-based or other indicators,” MSCI said in its statement.

The broader consultation will examine how such companies should be evaluated in future index reviews, as digital assets become a more prominent feature on corporate balance sheets.

Discord Files Confidentially for U.S. IPO, Bloomberg News Reports

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Online chat platform Discord has filed confidentially for an initial public offering in the United States, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The move comes as the U.S. IPO market showed signs of recovery in 2025 following nearly three years of subdued activity. However, expectations of a sustained rebound have been tempered by tariff-related market volatility, a prolonged government shutdown, and a late-year selloff in artificial intelligence stocks.

According to the report, discussions are still ongoing and Discord could ultimately decide not to proceed with a public listing. A Discord spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company remains focused on “delivering the best possible experience for users and building a strong, sustainable business.”

Discord did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Founded in 2015, Discord provides voice, video, and text communication services, initially targeting gamers and streamers but later expanding to broader online communities. The company said in a statement on its website in December that it had more than 200 million monthly active users.