Despite the recent release of some shipments, only a minority of the detained miners have been cleared, according to Luxor Technology’s COO, Ethan Vera. Authorities expressed concerns over radio frequency emissions from the rigs. The CBP has also expanded detentions to include rigs from other Chinese manufacturers like MicroBT and Canaan, though these claims have been dismissed by industry insiders. This development occurs amid tightened U.S. restrictions on Chinese imports, including a 10% tariff imposed by the Trump administration. In response, Bitmain is expanding its production line in the U.S. to mitigate trade-related delays.
Key takeaways:
- US Customs and Border Protection has started releasing some Chinese-made Bitcoin mining rigs after detaining them for months.
- The detentions were partly due to concerns over semiconductor technology and U.S.-China tensions, particularly involving Bitmain's Antminer rigs.
- Authorities raised concerns about radio frequency emissions from the mining rigs, although some industry leaders dismissed these claims as baseless.
- Bitmain is expanding its production line in the U.S. to sidestep trade hurdles, including a 10% tariff on Chinese imports imposed by the Trump administration.