Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked the US Commerce Department about its actions regarding national security risks associated with the Chinese cryptocurrency firm Bitmain. This inquiry follows reports regarding federal scrutiny of the company, which is responsible for producing a substantial portion of the world’s Bitcoin mining equipment.
Warren sent a letter on Thursday to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, requesting all communications and documents related to Bitmain. According to Bloomberg, the Department of Homeland Security initiated an investigation last year, known as “Operation Red Sunset,” to assess potential risks linked to the remote access of Bitmain’s machines, potentially enabling espionage or interference with the U.S. power grid.
The ongoing investigation remains unresolved, with its current status remaining unclear. Similar national security investigations can extend for several years without any public updates or legal repercussions.
Heightened US Concern Over Bitmain
This heightened scrutiny follows previous actions, such as the suspension of shipments from Bitmain and a separate review of a related Chinese chip enterprise due to supposed ties with the sanctioned Huawei.
In 2024, a federal review pointed out significant national security concerns regarding the use of these machines in proximity to a U.S. military base.
Furthermore, last July, it was reported that Bitmain is set to launch its first ASIC manufacturing facility in the U.S., with plans for production to commence in early 2026 and scale up by the end of the year.
Warren’s inquiry also aims to gather information on any interactions between Bitmain, the Trump family—Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are investors in American Bitcoin Corp, which ordered 16,000 rigs from Bitmain—and Commerce officials. The objective is to determine the safeguards the department has instituted to prevent political influence on national security decisions.
