Short Seller's May Report on Nvidia CEO's Ties to Executive Now Linked to Spy Suspicions Resurfaces

A May report from short seller Culper Research is drawing fresh attention after questions emerged about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based chip buyer Megaspeed who is now suspected of being a Chinese spy.

The New York-based firm's May 13 report, posted to X at the time, described the relationship between the two executives as "uncomfortably close," noting the Nvidia CEO was seen partying and socializing with Alice Huang on multiple occasions. The report also claimed some Nvidia employees wondered whether they had a "special relationship." Alice Huang shares the CEO's last name but is not related to him.

Culper, which stood to profit financially from its allegations as a short seller, also theorized that China business Nvidia lost to export controls had been rerouted through Southeast Asia, and that Megaspeed was secretly financed by Chinese tech giant Alibaba through shell companies. It pointed to financial records showing Megaspeed's total liabilities and equity grew from $33 million at the end of 2023 to around $3 billion by the end of 2024, much of it in refundable deposits from an unidentified source. Those chip-diversion allegations have not been independently verified.

The Financial Times reported Monday that documents show Alibaba lent money to Megaspeed through subsidiaries.

Source: TechCrunch