Overview
- A months-long, DHS-led investigation known as Operation Red Sunset has been reviewing whether Bitmain devices could enable espionage or sabotage, according to multiple reports.
- Federal officials have detained shipments at U.S. ports and dissected chips and firmware to test for malicious capabilities, while also looking at possible tariff and import-duty violations.
- Concerns include deployments near military bases and the power grid, following a July Senate Intelligence Committee report that flagged “disturbing vulnerabilities.”
- Bitmain denies any ability to remotely control its machines, says it complies with U.S. law, and states it has no awareness of an investigation by that name.
- Bitmain hardware purchased by the Trump-family–backed American Bitcoin venture is included in the scrutiny, and officials have not released any findings.