Nvidia’s Strategic Moves: OpenAI Investment and Regulatory Progress

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Nvidia's Chief Executive Jensen Huang has publicly addressed market speculation, confirming the semiconductor giant's participation in OpenAI's current funding round. Speaking in Taipei on February 1, 2026, Huang labeled rumors of a rift between the two companies as baseless. While the scale of the investment remains fluid, the CEO indicated it is poised to be the most significant capital deployment in Nvidia's history, underscoring the strategic importance of the alliance with the leading AI developer.

In a significant parallel development, regulatory hurdles for Nvidia's business in China have seen notable progress. Chinese authorities have granted conditional approval for several major technology firms to purchase Nvidia's H200 processors. Companies reported to be on the approved list include DeepSeek, ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent. The licenses are said to cover a total volume exceeding 400,000 H200 units.

This breakthrough follows a January 2026 adjustment to U.S. Commerce Department licensing review policies, which now permit certain exports under specific third-party audit conditions. This regulatory shift has facilitated the movement of advanced semiconductors to key Chinese tech entities.

Sector-Wide Pressure Impacts Trading

Despite these positive corporate and regulatory updates, Nvidia shares faced headwinds from broader market sentiment at the week's opening. The stock commenced trading on February 2 at $191.13, with the company's market capitalization standing at $4.64 trillion. The pressure was attributed to a sector-wide selloff, particularly among Asian semiconductor equities. Notable declines included SK Hynix, which dropped 8.69%, and Samsung, down 6.29%.

Market observers linked the sector's weakness to renewed interest rate concerns following the nomination of a new Federal Reserve Chair. This macroeconomic apprehension temporarily overshadowed company-specific news.

Analyst Sentiment Remains Bullish

The long-term outlook from financial experts remains strongly favorable. According to consensus data, fifty-three analysts currently cover Nvidia, with an average recommendation of "Buy." The mean price target among these market strategists is set at $263.98, suggesting significant projected upside from current trading levels.

Huang's clarification reiterates that the $100 billion figure mentioned in a non-binding letter of intent from September 2025 was not a fixed commitment. However, his confirmation of the planned investment reinforces Nvidia's aggressive strategy to cement its pivotal role in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.