[News] Top Chinese Bitcoin Mining Rig Makers Reportedly Move Production to U.S. Amid Tariff Pressures

Tariff threats are back—and in a twist, the world’s top three bitcoin mining rig makers—all Chinese—are now heading stateside. According to Reuters, Bitmain, Canaan and MicroBT are setting up manufacturing bases in the U.S. as Trump’s tariff war redraws the global crypto supply chain.

The report suggests that the three companies, which together produce over 90% of the world’s mining machines, are moving to the U.S. to dodge steep tariffs. But while this could ease trade pressure, it also risks deepening U.S. concerns over Chinese involvement in critical tech sectors like semiconductors and energy, as noted by Reuters.

As per EE Times China, as bitcoin prices surged and mining grew more complex, Chinese firms leveraged their strengths in chip design and manufacturing to capture the market.

The EE Times China report cites Bitmain as an example. Founded in 2013, it reportedly began with ASIC chip development and quickly launched its hit Antminer rigs. By 2018, it dominated over 90% of the global bitcoin mining rig market, the report indicates.

According to Reuters, Bitmain began U.S. production of mining rigs in December, calling it a strategic move after Trump’s election win.

Canaan followed with trial production aimed at dodging tariffs after Trump’s April tariff announcement, Reuters says. Notably, as per EE Times China, Canaan went public on Nasdaq in November 2019, becoming the first listed blockchain company globally.

On the other hand, EE Times China suggests that MicroBT, a rising star, began its U.S. localization efforts in 2022, ahead of the trade war escalation. In a statement to Reuters, MicroBT said it is actively pursuing a U.S. localization strategy to mitigate the impact of tariffs.

Security Concerns?

Reuters notes that the trio dominate a bitcoin mining sector projected to reach $12 billion by 2028, covering everything from energy-heavy operations to IT infrastructure and trading platforms. However, their U.S. rival Auradine raises concerns that, while North America handles over 30% of global bitcoin mining, over 90% of the hardware still comes from China. The company also warns that hundreds of thousands of Chinese-made rigs are connected to the U.S. power grid, posing security risks, the report adds.

Anyhow, EE Times China points out that bitcoin mining rigs were once a China-centric operation—design and assembly in China, chips likely made by TSMC, and mining spread globally. But now as all three Chinese mining machine giants set up factories in the U.S., the model is shifting to “designed in China, made in North America,” easing tariff risks and boosting local supply agility, the report adds.

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(Photo credit: Bitmain)