Bitmain Technologies Ltd., the Chinese giant known for making most of the world’s Bitcoin mining machines, is currently in the spotlight due to a federal investigation. According to a report by Bloomberg, this probe is looking into whether Bitmain’s products could pose risks to national security.
The investigation, aptly named “Operation Red Sunset,” is spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security. It’s checking if Bitmain’s machines could be hacked to carry out spying or sabotage on vital US infrastructure.
While Bitmain insists its products are secure, investigators are rigorously testing its machines at ports and analyzing chips and code to determine any risks.
Bitmain’s equipment has been under scrutiny for some time now. A 2017 Bitcoin Magazine report raised alarms about Antminer devices having code that allowed for remote shutdown. Bitmain explained that this was a feature to prevent theft, which has since been fixed. Similar worries cropped up again in 2019.
In May 2024, former President Joe Biden blocked a crypto mining site from being set up near a nuclear missile base in Wyoming due to national security risks associated with foreign mining equipment. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) pointed out that foreign mining devices near sensitive sites could potentially be used for surveillance and spying.
Bitmain stands firm, claiming it follows US laws and has no connections to the Chinese government. The company also stated that it was unaware of “Operation Red Sunset” or any related investigations.
Adding to the drama, the Commerce Department blacklisted Bitmain’s AI affiliate, Sophgo Technologies, in January 2025 over alleged connections with Huawei, raising more eyebrows about Bitmain’s ties to Beijing.
Bitmain Ties with the Trump Family
This investigation has links to the Trump family’s foray into crypto. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. have invested in American Bitcoin, a company that’s recently purchased 16,000 Bitmain machines for an astonishing $314 million, paid in Bitcoin, according to Bloomberg.
American Bitcoin plans to operate 76,000 mining devices across the US and Canada. The startup is insisting that its practices meet high security standards and that Bitmain’s hardware is not a credible threat to the US power grid or national security.
This topic has grabbed bipartisan attention. A July 2025 Senate Intelligence Committee report pointed out “worrying vulnerabilities” in Bitmain devices and warned that having them near power plants or military sites presents an “unacceptable risk.”
Republican Representative Zach Nunn has also called for a CFIUS review of specialized chips in foreign mining hardware to explore broader implications for policy.
As the US keeps a close watch on foreign crypto technology, this case highlights the tension between the rapidly growing digital asset industry and national security issues, especially when influential political figures are involved.
