As a seasoned researcher with a keen interest in the intersection of technology and geopolitics, I find the current situation involving Bitmain Antminer ASICs and the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) intriguing and concerning.
Customs officials in the United States are delaying the arrival of certain Bitmain Antminer parts, specifically application-specific integrated circuits, at U.S. border crossings. Some American cryptocurrency miners have been anticipating their Chinese mining equipment for over two months now, as suggested by a recent report.
Charging to hold up deliveries
As a crypto investor, I’ve found myself in a predicament lately due to issues affecting seven unnamed Bitcoin mining companies. According to Blockspace’s recent report on November 25, there seem to be delays with their shipments. Specifically, the ASICs they rely on are being detained at multiple ports of entry. In fact, some of these crucial ASICs have been held up for a staggering two months now. This unexpected hold-up could potentially impact the efficiency and profitability of my mining operations.
The most recent Bitmain Antminer S21 and T21 series ASICs (which are advanced Bitcoin mining hardware) have been put on hold with regards to delivery due to a request from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission Agency. This action is being carried out by the CBP, which is an enforcement division of the Department of Homeland Security, and it has caused disruption for affected mining companies.
A business reported that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had been levying a storage fee on 200 ASICs they were yet to receive. They mentioned that the accumulated charge surpassed $200,000.
At some border checkpoints, representatives from another organization have mentioned that members of the Advanced Targeting Unit (ATU) focus on inspecting specific areas involving holds. The ATU is responsible for identifying potential risks associated with travelers, goods, and vehicles on behalf of the agency.
A tangled web of sanctions?
The company proposed to Blockspace that the shipping pause could be connected to chip designer Sophgo, who is involved in an investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce in October. This is because chips similar to those ordered in Taiwan from Sophgo were discovered in a Huawei AI processor. Since 2019, Huawei has been subject to U.S. sanctions.
ASICs from other Chinese manufacturers are not being held by the CBP, according to the publication.
The Bitmain Antminer T21 started being delivered in January of the current year. Approximately 98% of the chips utilized in cryptocurrency mining originate from China. In an effort to dodge tariffs, China-rooted Bitmain has established branches in various countries. However, they have faced accusations of dumping and slashing prices to harm US chip manufacturers.
Companies based in China are among those that mine Bitcoin (BTC) within the U.S., as a result of the Chinese government tightening regulations on cryptocurrency mining in 2021.
Read More
- SEI PREDICTION. SEI cryptocurrency
- HBAR PREDICTION. HBAR cryptocurrency
- GBP EUR PREDICTION
- CNY RUB PREDICTION
- INJ PREDICTION. INJ cryptocurrency
- The DCU Is Better Off Without More Batman Movies for Awhile
- Nosferatu Director Explains Orlok’s Impressive Mustache (And It Makes Sense)
- Rumoured The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Dev is Working on an “Unannounced Unreal Engine 5 Remake”
- USD CHF PREDICTION
- TRB PREDICTION. TRB cryptocurrency
2024-11-26 00:26