Bitmain Technologies — the well-known crypto mining hardware company based in Beijing — is now facing a U.S. national security investigation. Several federal agencies want to know whether the company’s mining machines could be used for spying.
According to recent reports, the Department of Homeland Security, the Senate Intelligence Committee, and other government offices are looking into whether Bitmain’s ASIC miners have hidden features that could allow remote access, data leaks, or even sabotage.
U.S. officials became especially concerned after noticing clusters of Bitmain machines running near sensitive locations such as power grids, military sites, and other critical infrastructure.
This isn’t the first time Bitmain has been questioned. The Senate Intelligence Committee previously warned that Bitmain devices might be vulnerable to manipulation from China, pointing to “serious security risks.” The company has also been examined under a federal effort called “Operation Red Sunset,” where machines were seized at U.S. ports and taken apart to check for any malicious components. Investigators haven’t revealed what, if anything, they found.
Bitmain, for its part, strongly denies all accusations. The company says it does not have the ability to remotely control its devices and claims it has no knowledge of the investigations.
Concerns about Chinese surveillance aren’t new in the U.S. Government agencies have already banned TikTok on official devices, and earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed a law that could force TikTok’s owner to sell its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban.
For now, the investigation into Bitmain highlights how seriously the U.S. is taking national security risks tied to foreign technology — especially when it’s operating close to critical infrastructure.
