Bitmain’s hopes for an initial public offering (IPO) have been slashed after the cryptocurrency firm’s application to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange officially expired. Its application officially lapsed on Tuesday, six months after it was first submitted. The company, which specializes in designing microchips to mine cryptocurrency and work alongside AI applications, said on its website: We do recognize that despite the huge potential of the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, it remains a relatively young industry which is proving its value. We hope regulatory authorities, media, and the general public can be more inclusive to this young industry. Founded…

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