US Start Releasing Thousands of Seized Chinese Crypto Mining Machines: Report

Highlights:

• U.S. Customs started releasing thousands of seized Chinese crypto mining machines.
• Industry leaders deem concerns about emissions from mining machines unfounded.
• Trump supports U.S. Bitcoin mining and aims to boost domestic industry growth.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have started releasing thousands of seized Chinese-made crypto mining machines, Reuters reported Wednesday citing two industry executives. This follows the detention of a large number of units at ports of entry across the US.

“Thousands of units have been released,” said Taras Kulyk, CEO of Synteq Digital, a brokerage specializing in crypto mining equipment. He noted that certain staff members at the Customs and Border Protection “were not in favor of Bitcoin mining.” Moreover, he emphasized that their actions were aimed at causing significant disruption to the entire sector, which they succeeded in doing.

Cryptocurrency miners are high-performance computers with advanced chips that solve complex mathematical puzzles. This process supports blockchain creation and generates new digital currency as rewards.

Ethan Vera, COO of Luxor Technology, told Reuters that “some held shipments are being released, but they remain a minority.” Vera and Kulyk noted that authorities raised concerns about radio frequency emissions from the machines, which they considered unfounded.

U.S. Custom & Border Protection + Federal Communications Commission began seizing bitcoin mining equipment late last year, industry publication Blockspace reported last November.

Blockspace readers knew 4 months early 🏎️

Thanks for the shout-out, @Reuters! pic.twitter.com/gTsX0ufFCn

— Blockspace Media (@blockspacepod) March 5, 2025

Up to 10,000 mining machines were stranded at U.S. entry points before releases began. Some retailers claim their seized equipment was worth over $5 million.

CBP Seizes ASICs Amid Tariffs and Export Controls

Last November, Blockspace reported that CBP had been holding imports of Antminer ASICs at various ports, including San Francisco and Detroit. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requested that CBP hold certain shipments of Bitmain ASIC miners at ports of entry.

Sources familiar with the matter indicate that neither agency is targeting other ASIC manufacturers, such as MicroBT or Canaan. Instead, the seizures specifically target Bitmain’s Antminer S21 and T21 series, the latest ASIC miners from the company. Last month, a report revealed that CBP detained some Antminer units because they contained AI chips from Sophgo, a chip company now under trade restrictions. The enforcement actions come as President Donald Trump works to place tariffs on China and other countries.

The agencies’s actions align with guidelines from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In January, BIS implemented a series of export controls to regulate the export of advanced technologies, including semiconductors used in cryptocurrency mining. These rules aim to prevent such technology from being redirected to benefit China. 

Trump Pledges Support for U.S. Crypto Mining Expansion

Will Foxley from Blockspace stated that the escalation is partly due to the Trump administration’s push to onshore sensitive industries, including silicon. In a video on X last month, he said, “All these Bitcoin miners are using massive amounts of silicon, making massive amounts of units and importing them into the United States.” Foxley added that these seizures could hinder American mining firms from expanding their ASIC chip capacity and slow Bitcoin hashrate growth.

According to Hashrate Index data, the U.S. holds 43.8% of the Bitcoin network’s hashrate, making it the second-largest mining hub after China, which leads with 45.8%. Moreover, President Trump has vowed to support U.S.-based Bitcoin miners, advocating strongly for domestic mining. Last year, he stated his desire for all remaining Bitcoin to be mined in the U.S., highlighting the country’s potential for energy dominance.