Key Points
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seizing Bitcoin mining equipment at U.S. ports.
- The seizures have escalated, affecting MicroBT and Canaan units and causing significant delays for Bitcoin mining companies.
Bitcoin Mining Equipment Seizures Continue
The CBP continues to confiscate Bitcoin mining equipment at U.S. ports. These seizures are happening upon the request of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Documents and sources suggest that the agency is now also detaining MicroBT and Canaan units. This is an expansion of their previous efforts where they detained Antminer S21 and T21 units.
Impact of the Seizures
The recent seizures have escalated CBP’s previous actions against certain units due to AI chips from trade-restricted suppliers. For the first time since last fall, the agency is also seizing Bitmain units.
One source reported a loss of $5 million worth of equipment. A CBP letter confirmed the seizure of Bitmain S21 Pro units at San Francisco International Airport, citing violations of U.S. code related to unauthorized and non-FCC-compliant radio frequency equipment.
Delays in Importation
The CBP, at the FCC’s request, has been detaining imports of Bitmain’s Antminer ASIC miners nationwide, causing up to two-month delays. These delays have affected seven U.S.-based Bitcoin (BTC) mining companies. The detained models included the S21 and T21 series.
The CBP has not provided any reason for the holds or a timeline for resolution. The delays mainly impact West Coast ports like San Francisco and currently do not target MicroBT or Canaan units.
