TL;DR
- We’re launching the AI Chip Supercycle Challenge: a one-month Kraken Futures trading competition across six brand-new equity perps, running September 4–October 4, 2026.
- A $20,000 USDG prize pool ranked entirely by Realized PnL: only closed positions count, so execution drives rank rather than position size.
- Six eligible perps, one leaderboard: SK Hynix (SKHYNIX), SOXL, SOXS, Nebius (NBIS), Samsung (SAMSUNG), and SanDisk (SANDISK). Long, short, or both.
- Availability varies by country (excludes EEA, US, UK, and Canada). Enroll before you trade — positions opened before opting in are not eligible.
Six names. One supply chain.
SK Hynix, SOXL, SOXS, Nebius, Samsung, and SanDisk are the six names in the AI Chip Supercycle Challenge. covering the AI chip supply chain from memory to compute to broad semiconductor exposure. All six are new equity perps on Kraken Futures, and for one month they share a single $20,000 USDG competition leaderboard.
Here’s what each brings to the basket:
- SK Hynix (SKHYNIX): Memory and high-bandwidth memory, one of the core inputs in AI accelerator chip production
- SOXL: Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x ETF, offering leveraged long exposure across the broad semiconductor sector
- SOXS: Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x ETF, the inverse counterpart to SOXL on the same underlying index
- Nebius (NBIS): AI infrastructure and cloud compute, the closest pure-play AI name in the basket
- Samsung (SAMSUNG): Memory, contract foundry, and consumer silicon across the supply chain
- SanDisk (SANDISK): NAND flash storage, integral to AI data and storage pipeline infrastructure
Note: SOXL and SOXS are 3x leveraged ETFs. They carry embedded leverage before any additional perp leverage is applied. Review our Kraken Derivatives risk disclosure before trading those instruments.
Long or short, same leaderboard
SOXL (3x bull) and SOXS (3x bear) both sit in the basket by design. One provides leveraged long exposure to semiconductors; the other provides leveraged short exposure to the same index. Both feed into a single leaderboard.
Whether you’re positioning for semiconductor strength or fading the sector, your Realized PnL counts either way. This is not a one-directional competition.
How scoring works
Rankings are based entirely on Realized PnL. Open positions accrue no leaderboard credit until they’re closed. Only settled trades count toward your score.
A minimum of $1 in realized profit is required to qualify for prizes. The leaderboard updates in real time and displays which assets each top-ranked trader is running, not just their PnL totals.
Because rank is driven by closed PnL rather than open exposure, a well-timed short can outrank a larger long that hasn’t been settled. The mechanic rewards active trading across all six pairs.
Prizes
$20,000 USDG, distributed across the full ranked field:
| Rank | Prize |
| 1st | $3,500 |
| 2nd | $2,000 |
| 3rd | $1,200 |
| 4th–10th | $500 each |
| 11th–25th | $250 each |
| 26th–50th | $80 each |
| 51st–150th | $30 each |
| 151st and beyond | Proportional share of $1,050 |
There is no cap on winners. Every qualifying participant above rank 150 shares the overflow pool proportionally.
How to enter
- Log in to Kraken Futures or create an account if you haven’t already.
- Enroll in the AI Chip Supercycle Challenge before placing any trades. Positions opened before opting in do not count toward your score.
- Trade any combination of the six eligible perps between September 4, 2026 00:00 UTC and October 4, 2026 23:59 UTC.
- Close positions to lock in Realized PnL and appear on the leaderboard.
Already trading on Kraken Futures? The six new pairs are live in your account now. Enroll, trade, and compete.
Trading spot or margin with us and new to futures? Your existing account gets you in. Activate futures access to unlock the equity perps and join the competition.
The AI Chip Supercycle Challenge availability varies by country (excludes residents of the EEA, US, UK, and Canada). Additional regional restrictions may apply. Review the full terms and conditions before participating.
Payward Digital Solutions Ltd. is licensed to conduct digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Trading futures, derivatives and other instruments using leverage involves an element of risk and may not be suitable for everyone. Read Kraken Derivatives’ risk disclosure to learn more.