Bitcoin-miner Bitmain Faces Federal Investigation Over National Security Issues: Report

Bitmain Technologies Ltd., the leading Chinese manufacturer of Bitcoin mining machines, is reportedly the subject of a federal investigation, codenamed “Operation Red Sunset” led by the Department of Homeland Security, to assess whether its equipment poses national security risks, such as potential remote manipulation for espionage or sabotage of critical US infrastructure. Bitmain denies these capabilities, though investigators have reportedly tested its hardware. This scrutiny is not new; past reports raised concerns about remote shutdown features in Antminer devices. The investigation occurs amid heightened US concern over foreign-sourced mining equipment near sensitive sites, exemplified by President Biden blocking a mining facility near a Wyoming missile base in May 2024. Further complicating matters, Bitmain’s AI affiliate, Sophgo Technologies, was blacklisted in January 2025 over alleged ties to Huawei. The situation is further complicated by the Trump family’s venture, American Bitcoin, which recently purchased $314 million in Bitmain devices, raising bipartisan attention regarding vulnerabilities in the hardware near critical US assets.

(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)