Senator Elizabeth Warren has reportedly requested the US Commerce Division to clarify how it’s dealing with potential nationwide safety dangers tied to Chinese language crypto mining big Bitmain, following earlier stories that the agency has been underneath federal scrutiny.
In a letter despatched Thursday to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Warren requested paperwork and communications associated to Bitmain, which manufactures a big share of the world’s Bitcoin mining tools, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
In November final yr, it was reported that US authorities had launched an investigation into Bitmain over potential nationwide safety dangers. The probe, often known as “Operation Purple Sundown” and led by the US Division of Homeland Safety, aimed to look at whether or not Bitmain’s ASIC machines may very well be remotely accessed for espionage or used to disrupt the US energy grid.
In line with Bloomberg, the probe stays unresolved, and its present standing is unclear. Nationwide safety investigations of this kind can run for years with out public disclosure or authorized motion.
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US scrutiny of Bitmain deepens
The scrutiny follows earlier actions, together with halted shipments of Bitmain units and a separate investigation right into a associated Chinese language chip agency over alleged hyperlinks to sanctioned Huawei.
In 2024, a federal evaluate additionally flagged the usage of its machines close to a US army base as elevating “vital nationwide safety issues.”
In July final yr, Bloomberg additionally reported that Bitmain is getting ready to open its first US-based ASIC manufacturing facility, with chip manufacturing anticipated to start in early 2026 and scale by year-end.
Cointelegraph reached out to Warren and Bitmain for remark, however had not obtained a response by publication.
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Trump-backed American Bitcoin buys Bitmain mining rigs
Bitmain’s machines are extensively utilized in Bitcoin mining operations, together with by American Bitcoin Corp., which counts Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. amongst its buyers. The agency agreed final yr to amass 16,000 Bitmain rigs in a $314 million deal.
Warren’s letter additionally seeks particulars on any communications between Bitmain, the Trump household and Commerce officers, and asks what steps the division has taken to defend nationwide safety choices from political affect.
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