TSMC just posted a monster Q4 result—profits jumped 35% above expectations, riding the AI chip wave. Here's what matters: when foundries like TSMC print these kinds of numbers, it signals robust demand across the entire semiconductor supply chain. For crypto markets, this matters more than you'd think. Strong chip availability keeps GPU and ASIC production flowing, which directly impacts mining profitability and hardware costs. The sustained AI momentum also reflects broader tech infrastructure investment, feeding into data center demand and computational power availability. Whether you're trading altcoins tied to AI infrastructure or running mining operations, TSMC's earnings tell you something crucial—the hardware backbone supporting crypto operations is firing on all cylinders. This kind of foundry strength typically precedes more aggressive expansion in computing capacity across the board.