Bitcoin mining company Bitmain, known for producing powerful hardware used to mine Bitcoin, has made a major move to expand its production to the United States. This decision comes at a time when US-based Bitcoin miners have been facing long delays in receiving their much-needed mining equipment.
For weeks, shipments of Bitmain’s Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) miners have been stuck at US ports, causing significant disruptions. Some miners have reported waiting up to two months to receive their hardware. To tackle these issues, Bitmain is now setting up a production line within the US, aiming to streamline its supply chain and get mining equipment to customers faster.
The move comes as tensions rise between the US and China, with trade policies affecting the global supply of tech equipment. Recently, the US has expanded export controls, restricting the sale of certain advanced technology to China, while China has imposed its own restrictions on critical minerals, affecting imports to the US.
Bitmain, which is based in China, wants to bypass these challenges by producing more equipment locally, particularly for the North American market. This shift will help ensure faster delivery times for miners, especially with the growing demand for more efficient mining equipment.
As part of this expansion, Bitmain plans to roll out its latest mining hardware, the Antminer S21 Pro, later this month. This new model promises a significant boost to the Bitcoin mining industry, offering more power and efficiency than previous models. By speeding up the delivery and production of these machines in the US, Bitmain hopes to provide more reliable services to its North American customers.
The US is rapidly becoming a global hub for Bitcoin mining, with over 44% of the Bitcoin network's computing power, or hashrate, now based in the US and Canada. Some of the largest Bitcoin mining companies, including Marathon Digital Holdings and Riot Platforms, are based in the US, making this expansion by Bitmain even more significant.
In addition, former President Donald Trump has expressed interest in making the US the center of Bitcoin mining, calling for all Bitcoin to be mined in the country. While the economic implications of such moves are debated, Bitmain's decision to increase production in the US aligns with these broader trends.
With production expanding in the US, Bitmain aims to meet the growing demands of North American miners, while also navigating the challenges posed by trade restrictions. This strategic move marks a new chapter for the company, as it looks to strengthen its position in the competitive Bitcoin mining industry.