US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released thousands of Chinese-made crypto mining machines after months of holding them at various US ports.
The seized equipment, mainly high-tech computers designed to mine digital currencies, had been held up due to concerns about security and trade restrictions. These machines, designed to solve complex mathematical puzzles to create digital currencies, have now started finding their way into the hands of industry players.
This equipment’s release marks a policy shift after months of delays. Industry sources report that US authorities once held back nearly 10,000 units. Taras Kulyk, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency mining industry. It was confirmed that many of these machines are now cleared for use.
He stated that the process had been a major inconvenience for the sector, noting some CBP officers’ opposition toward Bitcoin mining. According to Kulyk, broader political and security concerns likely motivated these delays.
Both CBP and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seized the machines. Which raised concerns about the equipment’s potential to interfere with communications. Specifically, officials said some seized miners contained chips from Sophgo, a Chinese company tied to trade restrictions.
Only a small portion of seized crypto mining equipment returned
The US government had blocked Sophgo for allegedly facilitating connections between the Chinese company Huawei and Taiwan’s TSMC. Industry experts indicate that authorities are not returning all detained machines to their owners despite releasing some equipment.
Ethan Vera, COO of Luxor Technology, remarked that authorities have cleared only a small portion of the arrested equipment. Vera and Kulyk dismissed the concerns regarding radio frequency emissions, calling them unfounded.
As the trade tensions between the US and China continue. These developments highlight ongoing concerns over the national security implications of foreign-made technology in critical sectors like cryptocurrency mining.
