After months of being held at US ports of entry, thousands of seized crypto miners have finally started moving, according to reports. The delay, which affected up to 10,000 miners, caused major headaches for Bitcoin mining firms.
US Customs Releases Thousands of Crypto Miners
According to Taras Kulyk, CEO of Synteq Digital, thousands of seized mining rigs have now been released:
“Apparently, there were some folks in the CBP that really didn’t like Bitcoin mining, so they wanted to give the entire sector a headache, which they did quite well.”
Ethan Vera, COO of Luxor Technology, confirmed that some shipments are being released, though many still remain held.
Why Were the Miners Seized?
The delay stemmed from an investigation involving Bitmain-related chip designer Sophgo, which was linked to Huawei AI processors. The US Department of Commerce flagged these chips in October, leading US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to seize thousands of Bitmain Antminer ASIC miners.
Sophgo has denied any business relationship with Huawei, but the issue compounded delays for mining firms.
Massive Holding Fees for Seized Miners
Some firms faced huge financial setbacks due to the holdup. One company reported that CBP was charging a holding fee for 200 ASICs, with the bill exceeding $200,000 by November.
Interestingly, ASIC miners from other Chinese manufacturers were not affected by the CBP’s actions.
Trump’s Tariffs and the Crypto Mining Industry
The release of the miners comes as the Trump administration enforces a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which impacts crypto mining hardware. While Trump has postponed auto part tariffs for Canada and Mexico, his trade policies continue to affect the crypto industry.
The US Remains a Bitcoin Mining Powerhouse
Despite the setbacks, the US remains a major player in Bitcoin mining.
- 38% of the Bitcoin network hashrate is based in the US.
- The country is home to four of the largest Bitcoin mining firms by valuation:
- MARA Holdings
- Core Scientific
- CleanSpark
- Riot Platforms
To combat shipping delays, Bitmain has also expanded its US-based production lines, a move the company believes will provide a “significant boost” to industry partners.
With the release of seized miners, the Bitcoin mining sector is set to recover lost ground—but uncertainty remains over future US trade policies and their impact on crypto infrastructure.
