Michaela
The Lonestar Dream Bitcoin mining facility in Pyote, Texas, was raided by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who targeted an on-site ASIC repair center operated by Bitmain-affiliated ADW Tech.
Key points:
- ICE, along with FBI, HSI, DPS, and CBP, raided the Lonestar Dream Bitcoin mining facility in Texas, targeting the Bitmain-affiliated ADW Tech repair center.
- Twelve to thirteen workers, roughly half the staff, were detained, including Chinese nationals with expired visas, amid rising federal scrutiny of U.S. crypto mining operations.
- CBP has previously seized Bitmain ASIC miner shipments, including Antminer S21 and T21 units, highlighting growing regulatory focus on compliance, national security, and export controls in the crypto mining sector.
Multiple sources speaking anonymously to Blockspace reported that the raid included personnel from ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Witnesses at the scene said an ICE helicopter was observed patrolling the facility early Monday morning before the operation began.
“Helicopters, snipers, armed men,” the witness told Blockspace. “[They asked] leading questions… ‘who does this, who does that.,’” the witness added.
Twelve to thirteen workers, representing about half of the repair center’s staff, were detained after failing to provide valid credentials. A witness reported that ICE specifically took custody of the Chinese nationals, many holding expired visas.
This is not the first time bitcoin mining operations have come under federal scrutiny. In late 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began intermittently seizing ASIC miner shipments at ports of entry. Some hardware remained detained for months, with companies charged holding fees, often without clear explanations for the flagged equipment.
The CBP concentrated on shipments of the newest Bitmain ASIC miners, the Antminer S21 and T21. Reports indicated that some units have been held for up to two months, with delays occurring across multiple ports nationwide, including San Francisco and Detroit, according to an industry source.
The raid at Lonestar Dream emphasizes growing scrutiny of the U.S. cryptocurrency mining sector, particularly operations tied to foreign-linked companies. As digital asset mining becomes more entwined with global supply chains and specialized hardware, regulators appear increasingly focused on compliance, national security, and export controls.
Heightened oversight could accelerate innovation in domestic repair services and alternative mining technologies. The unfolding situation may serve as a bellwether for how U.S. authorities balance enforcement with supporting the broader crypto ecosystem.
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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.
