Baby Doge Coin (babydoge) 
US Crypto Miners Face Delays as Customs Officials Scrutinize Bitmain Shipments
US-based cryptocurrency miners relying on Bitmain hardware are experiencing shipment delays due to increased scrutiny from customs officials amidst rising trade tensions.
Delays and Inspections
Crypto mining firms in the United States are facing delays in receiving new equipment as customs officials have stepped up checks on shipments from Bitmain, the leading supplier of Bitcoin mining rigs. According to industry executives, US Customs has started randomly inspecting almost all airlifted Bitcoin mining machines over the past three months.
“U.S. Customs has started randomly inspecting almost all of the airlifted Bitcoin mining machines since about three months ago.”
Several companies have been affected by these delays. New York-based Bit Digital reported that 700 of its mining rigs were delayed by a few weeks. An Oklahoma-based operation has 2,000 rigs stuck in customs, according to a person familiar with the matter. Luxor Technology’s Ethan Vera noted that shipments labeled with Bitmain miner labels were among those being targeted.
Trade Tensions and Tariffs
The situation may worsen, as a 10% tariff on Chinese imports took effect on February 1, adding to the costs of new machines. This comes at a time when Bitmain’s co-founder, Zhan Ketuan, is under pressure from US authorities over his AI company, Sophgo, which was blacklisted in January for allegedly helping China’s chip industry and working with Huawei.
Bitmain’s Expansion Plans
Despite these challenges, Bitmain announced plans for a new US facility in December, although the location remains undisclosed. The company’s supply chain headaches may impact its ability to meet the demands of US-based cryptocurrency miners.
Stay up-to-date with the latest cryptocurrency news and trends on Global Crypto News. Discover how trade tensions and regulatory developments are shaping the crypto landscape.
