ASML’s €7.4 Billion EUV Boom Fuels Nvidia’s AI Dominance

- ASML posts €13.2 billion in Q4 2025 bookings, beating expectations. - EUV systems for AI chips drive €7.4 billion in orders. ASML’s monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines cements its critical role in the global semiconductor industry. The company’s advanced machines fabricate cutting-edge semiconductors, including Nvidia’s AI chips like the Blackwell processors. These chips are essential for AI infrastructure, solidifying ASML’s unmatched position in the technology supply chain. On January 29, 2026, Cryptopolitan reported that ASML recorded €13.2 billion in bookings for the fourth quarter of 2025, exceeding analyst expectations. Of this total, EUV systems accounted for €7.4 billion, which underscores the critical demand for this technology. Over the entire year, ASML shipped 48 EUV systems and generated €11.6 billion in revenue. As a result, the company projects 2026 net sales between €34 billion and €39 billion, up from €32.7 billion in 2025. As the sole global manufacturer of EUV lithography machines, ASML remains indispensable in producing the world’s most advanced semiconductors. Semiconductor foundries like TSMC rely heavily on ASML's equipment to manufacture chips designed by Nvidia and other major players. While the company’s product line includes low numerical aperture (NA) systems essential for today’s advanced AI chip production, ASML is also developing high NA systems to meet future design needs. Reflecting their technological importance, EUV systems carry a steep price. Low NA machines cost approximately €220 million each, while the next-generation high NA systems will range between €320 million and €400 million. These new tools are expected to enable large-scale manufacturing by 2027 or 2028, and industry leaders like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung are already conducting trials with them. ASML’s financial success and robust stock market performance validate its dominance. Analysts remain optimistic about the sustained demand for EUV technology, citing its irreplaceable role in advancing AI chip production. The company's stock surged 36% last year and has gained another 32% since January, pushing its valuation over $500 billion. This milestone makes ASML the third European company to cross that threshold. Since competitors Nikon and Canon lag far behind, ASML’s monopoly on EUV lithography ensures it will continue to shape the future of semiconductor technology.