Bitcoin Miners in the U.S. Face Disruptions Due to Trade Tensions with China

U.S. cryptocurrency miners are experiencing significant delays in receiving essential mining equipment, as tighter customs checks and a trade war with China cause disruptions in the supply chain. These delays primarily impact mining rigs from Bitmain, a Beijing-based company that dominates the global market for specialized Bitcoin mining hardware.

Reports indicate that U.S. customs officials have intensified their scrutiny of shipments from Bitmain, leading to more frequent inspections. Nuo Xu, founder of the China Digital Mining Association, noted that since late 2024, U.S. Customs has been randomly inspecting nearly all airlifted Bitcoin mining machines, resulting in major delays for mining operations.

For example, Bit Digital, a New York-based mining firm, revealed that 700 of its mining rigs were delayed for several weeks due to these intensified checks. Another operation in Oklahoma reported having 2,000 rigs stuck in customs. Companies like Luxor Technology have also observed that shipments labeled with Bitmain miner products are being disproportionately targeted for scrutiny.

These shipment delays are exacerbated by additional tariffs on Chinese imports, which came into effect on February 1, 2025, adding a 10% tariff on mining hardware. The tariff is expected to increase the cost of mining rigs, further straining the financial operations of U.S.-based miners who rely on Chinese manufacturers for their equipment.

Meanwhile, Bitmain is grappling with its own internal and external challenges. The company’s co-founder, Zhan Ketuan, faces mounting pressure from U.S. authorities due to his other business venture, Sophgo, which was blacklisted in January 2025. Sophgo is accused of aiding China’s chip industry and collaborating with Huawei, a company that has been a target of U.S. sanctions. This blacklisting has had a severe impact on Sophgo, cutting off its access to key suppliers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

Despite these challenges, Bitmain has announced plans to establish a new U.S. facility to mitigate the impact of trade tensions. However, the company has kept the location of the new facility confidential.

The combination of stricter customs checks, rising tariffs, and geopolitical issues is creating a difficult environment for U.S.-based Bitcoin miners, who are already facing mounting costs and logistical challenges in their operations. As the situation continues to evolve, miners may be forced to find alternative solutions or face rising costs that could reduce the profitability of their operations.