no, there could be no small "fab", if it is a fab.
Actually, this part Im willing to believe. Universities can have research fabs. They are not big, dont have large capacity but can produce chips in limited quantities using usually old/obsolete technology. The Howard Wang story producing some 180nm chips at his university is actually quite credible.
Whats less credible is that prior to IPO that was somehow changed to 130nm with 20x better specs while maintaining the same time table.
What entirely not credible is that a 65nm chip could be developed in any reasonable amount of time with the money they raised.
My guess is that Howard Wang really exists, really worked on a 180nm chip. Found some people to help monetize this. Once they realized that a 180nm chip with those specs, even if it worked, wouldnt exactly be a gold mine that would attract enough capital, theswede started making up stuff to make this venture look potentially lucrative.
To expand on my hypothesis; we know the "itec pro" company was founded by Fabrizio Tatti in February. The goal of this company as stated on linkedin is online sales of chinese smartphones and tablets. But soon after Fabrizzio joined Oppo, a Chinese handset manufacturer, its very unlikely they would have allowed him to continue his online shop. Hence the website is defunct, and the company became inactive, if it ever was active.
Howard Wang, "sam" or theswede know Fabrizzio and offered to use his idle shelf company for their bitcoin project in return for some of the profit. Fabrizzio may not know the first thing about bitcoins, but had nothing to lose, so agreed. He is not involved in the activities (in so far there any) of labcoin in any way shape or form. Small wonder he never communicates about it and doesnt even seem to have a forum account here.
Its all conjecture, but it does make a credible story IMO.
