US Officials Detain Bitmain Antminer Units at Ports

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reportedly instructed the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to seize Bitmain Antminer units at various ports across the country.

According to Blockspace Media, CBP focused its efforts on shipments of Bitmain’s latest application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miners, the Antminer S21 and T21. The CBP has reportedly detained some of these units for two months. One source stated that the hold-ups are “happening nationwide,” including ports in San Francisco and Detroit.

Sources have also stated that the CBP and FCC have not targeted other manufacturers like MicroBT and Canaan.

FCC Investigation Possibly Linked to Sophgo Chip Investigation

Several Bitcoin mining companies reportedly experienced prolonged delays and did not get any word on when shipments will be released. The CBP has also not specified the reason for the detainments nor has the agency provided a timeline for how long it intends to hold these shipments.

Sources indicated that the FCC’s decision to detain the mining units may be linked to an investigation into the components within Bitmain’s ASIC miners, specifically the Sophgo CV1835 chip. Sophgo is currently facing scrutiny due to its reported connections to Huawei, a company that has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019.

Industry experts speculate that the FCC and CBP may be examining the detained units to determine if they contain any restricted hardware.

However, Bitmain sources components from multiple suppliers. This means that not all units in the affected models contain the Sophgo chips in question.

Several impacted companies have reported significant storage fees, with one firm racking up over $200,000 in charges while waiting for a resolution on 200 detained units. This raised concerns about the lack of communication from government agencies involved.

Mining Unit Detainment Affects the US Crypto Mining Sector

The hold-up has led to delays in the deployment of mining hardware across the country. This, in turn, hampers their ability to scale mining operations, ultimately affecting profitability and operational timelines.

For U.S.-based mining companies, which rely heavily on the latest ASIC miners, these delays could create a competitive disadvantage.

This situation presents a potential setback for the U.S.’s broader goals of establishing itself as a global crypto haven, an objective championed by figures like Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz, a pro-Bitcoin miner, has stated that he intends to make Texas a crypto “haven” for cryptocurrency businesses.

Additionally, the scenario complicates efforts to align with President-elect Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance. Trump has publicly supported digital assets and expressed plans to integrate cryptocurrency into his administration’s financial policies.

If these types of regulatory and logistical hurdles persist, they could undermine the ambitions to position the U.S. as a leading hub for cryptocurrency innovation. This could make it harder for both mining operations and the broader crypto industry to thrive.

Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

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