While Bitcoin and Ethereum lost nearly 40% in the past 12 months, AXT Inc. rose more than 5,100%, becoming one of the most interesting AI stories in the financial markets.
We break down what AXT does, why it exploded, and how it compares to Bitcoin and Ethereum in a brutal year for crypto markets.
How AXT Inc. Soared Over 5,100% In Just 12 Months
AXT Inc. is a California-based semiconductor company that manufactures high-quality components. Its main product is Indium Phosphide, alongside Gallium Arsenide and Germanium, all important materials for advanced imaging and visualization through AI.
Numbers speak louder. AXTI traded around $1.74 in June 2025, then jumped to around $89 by early June 2026, a rally of more than 5,100% during the entire period.
The stock briefly touched an all-time high of $140 on May 22, 2026, before correcting nearly 35%. Even after this, AXTI’s annual returns remain impressive and are among the best in the entire stock market.
The conference was driven by the explosion of demand for AI infrastructure. Hyperscalers love it GoogleAmazon, Microsoftand Meta advanced the data center construction process, bringing AXT’s remaining portfolio and raising expectations for future capacity expansion.
AXT’s Indium Phosphide supports next-generation lasers and optical transceivers running at speeds of 800G and 1.6T. These tools enable high-speed communication within today’s AI data environment, making them essential to the entire ecosystem.
The company controls about 40% of the world’s Indium Phosphide production. There are few short-term replacements, offering AXTI’s valuable capabilities and silence in a certain corner of the AI toolkit.
In his own Earnings for Q1 2026 report released on April 30, AXT Inc. (AXTI) posted revenue of $26.9 million, up 39% YoY from $19.4 million.
The company significantly increased its margin to 29.6% (from 6.4% in Q1 2025), while narrowing its GAAP loss to $1.6 million ($0.03 per share), exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Strong demand for Indium Phosphide parts for the AI data center drove the results, with a backlog of more than $100 million.
How Bitcoin and Ethereum Compare Over the Same Year
Bitcoin and Ethereum faced a different story. The king of the crypto market traded close to $ 110,000 one year ago and is now close to $ 60,700, a drop of almost 40% in the same twelve months.
This week the picture got even bigger. Bitcoin has faced a serious problem of withdrawal, down more than 17% in one week and break below $60,000it is approaching the annual decline that few major shareholders expected.
The background macro does not help. The location of Bitcoin ETFs recorded outflows above $1.7 billion this week alone, the largest weekly data of the year, according to SosoValue. data. Meanwhile, a strong jobs report in the United States reducing expectations of future rate cuts.
Ethereum has followed a similar downward trend. The stock traded near $2,685 a year ago and is now around $1,560, an improvement of nearly 35% over the same twelve-month window.
This week was equally strong for ETH. The indicator has dropped more than 22% in 7 daysbreaking down key areas of technology and highlighting the risk-taking mindset that now dominates the crypto and historical financial markets.
The AXTI case illustrates a powerful lesson. In the latest round of AI, some specialized “picks and shovels” vendors may recoup their earnings. dwarf even mainstream crypto newscombining Bitcoin and Ethereum in the same currency window.
However AXTI remains unmoved. High valuations, dependence on the AI sector, and high exposure to manufacturing in China are dangerous. This method only reveals the great surface that hides within the quiet corners of the AI.
A note This Hidden AI Saves 5,100% While Bitcoin and Ethereum Lost About 40% appeared for the first time BeInCrypto.
