US-based crypto miners are facing delays in receiving ASIC mining hardware due to intensified scrutiny of shipments from China’s Bitcoin, the dominant supplier of Bitcoin (BTC) mining rigs.
As Bloomberg News reported, industry executives said shipments of Bitmain machines have been held up due to increased scrutiny by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The timing aligns with the US Commerce Department’s January blacklisting of Xiamen Sophgo Technologies Ltd., an AI firm affiliated with Bitmain, accused of furthering Beijing’s ambitions in advanced chip production.
The delays also come amid escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The latest seizures and import hold represent a notable escalation from the CBP’s detainment of Antminer S21 and T21 units last year.
Mounting regulatory pressure
Bitmain, which controls roughly 90% of the global market for specialized Bitcoin mining rigs, has been subject to US tariffs since 2018.
On Feb. 1, President Donald Trump announced an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports, further complicating the landscape for miners reliant on Bitmain’s machines.
Nuo Xu, founder of the China Digital Mining Association, said:
“US Customs has started randomly inspecting almost all airlifted Bitcoin mining machines since about three months ago.”
He added that officers are scrutinizing machines more closely and demanding certificates of origin, further delaying shipments.
A source familiar with the situation disclosed that an Oklahoma-based mining operation with 2,000 rigs has been significantly delayed due to stringent customs checks. Luxor Technology COO Ethan Vera said shipments with Bitmain labels are among those targeted by customs.
Taras Kulyk, CEO at Synteq Digital, a major mining hardware broker, said:
“Heavier tariffs would essentially halt the importation of new-generation hardware into the US, making it completely cost-prohibitive. There will be a ton of projects that will cease construction because they wouldn’t be able to get the hardware.”
Impact on US mining
The fresh tariffs have already had a measurable impact on the US mining industry despite its remarkable growth in the past six months.
According to CBP data compiled by TheMinerMag, the gross weight of imported Bitcoin mining rigs and accessories plummeted nearly 65% year-over-year in January 2025. The inability to secure new equipment at competitive prices could undermine the long-term viability of US mining firms.
New York-based Bit Digital recently experienced a two-week delay on a shipment of 700 mining machines, a relatively minor setback, according to CEO Sam Tabar. However, others are facing steeper challenges.
The regulatory pressure also threatens Bitmain’s domination, as competition from China-based MicroBT and California’s Auradine is mounting.
Vera warned:
“I would expect any company buying Bitmain’s machines is going to be at risk right now, including the public ones.”
In an effort to deal with the current situation, Bitmain recently launched a domestic production line in the US to counter the import-related challenges for its machines. The rollout of the Antminer S21 Pro from the new US facility is expected to provide miners with a much-needed boost in efficiency and reduce operational uncertainty.
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