Retail-trader `bottleneck bros' eyeing AI supply chain can't wait for SK Hynix options

SK Hynix options will debut Tuesday and likely be a smashing success, thanks to record-high retail trading activity and everyday folks trying to find the next big AI success story. The South Korean semiconductor sensation sold almost $27 billion of stock in its U.S. market-debut Friday and fits the bill for exactly the type of trade individual investors have been clamoring for: suppliers of technology and tools needed to power the AI boom.

Retail accounted for an average $6.7 billion of options premium traded per day last month, more than 15% above the previous record in May, and 65% above last year's average, according to a July 7 report by Citadel Securities. Semiconductor trading accounted for more than $1 billion per day, the most popular theme.

For many of those retail tech traders, SK Hynix's memory business reminds them of Micron – the paragon of the supply-chain bottleneck thesis that rallied almost 1000% the past year before a 23% selloff since its late-June high.

"People are about to get SK Hynix specifically because Nvidia's made it very clear they're going to need a continuous supply of memory," said Gav Blaxberg, founder and CEO of Wolf Financial, a sprawling trader enclave with idea-sharing events that span X, YouTube and podcasts. "You have a demand ...