Bitmain to Open First US Chip Factory Amid Trade Tensions

The move comes as trade wars between the US and China heat up. High tariffs and government restrictions are forcing Chinese tech companies to rethink their strategies.

Bitmain will establish its new headquarters in either Texas or Florida by the end of September 2025. The company expects to start making chips in early 2026 and reach full production by the end of that year.

Irene Gao, Bitmain’s global business chief, told Bloomberg the factory will speed up delivery times for US customers. She called America’s push for Bitcoin dominance “a unique opportunity.”

The company plans to hire 250 local workers during the first phase. These jobs will include manufacturing and equipment maintenance roles.

The factory announcement follows months of supply problems. US customs officials stopped thousands of Bitmain chip shipments in November 2024. This happened after investigators looked into Sophgo, a Chinese chip company with ties to US-banned firm Huawei.

Sophgo has connections to Bitmain through shared ownership. In January 2025, the US Commerce Department added Sophgo to its restricted trade list. Companies on this list cannot buy US technology without special permits, which are rarely approved.

The US now charges 30% tariffs on Chinese-made mining equipment. These high costs push Chinese manufacturers to build factories in America instead of shipping products from Asia.

All three major Chinese Bitcoin hardware makers are now moving to the US. Canaan finished a test production run in America, while MicroBT says it is working on a US strategy to avoid tariff impacts.

President Trump’s administration supports American crypto production. The president has spoken about wanting all remaining Bitcoin to be “made in America.” His family has also started crypto businesses, including a mining company called American Bitcoin.

Trump previously held up an American-made mining chip and said “Made in America. Great,” according to reports from industry meetings.

The administration’s focus on domestic manufacturing fits with Bitmain’s expansion plans. Companies that produce locally can avoid trade barriers and build closer ties with US customers.

The US has become the world’s largest Bitcoin mining country since China banned the practice in 2021. American miners now control about 37% of the global network’s computing power.

Bitmain still faces hurdles in the US market. Government officials worry about Chinese companies controlling critical infrastructure. Some American competitors want stricter rules on foreign-made mining equipment.

Auradine, a US chip maker with backing from mining giant MARA Holdings, has asked the government to limit Chinese firms. The company argues that hundreds of thousands of Chinese mining machines connected to America’s power grid could pose security risks.

Questions also remain about whether crypto mining chips will face the same export restrictions as artificial intelligence processors. This uncertainty makes planning difficult for Chinese manufacturers.

The company previously ran a Bitcoin mining farm in rural Texas starting in 2019. It’s unclear if Bitmain still owns this facility.

The factory could help American mining companies expand faster. Local production means shorter wait times for new equipment and quicker repairs when machines break down.

Major US miners like MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, and CleanSpark have been growing rapidly. These publicly traded companies need steady supplies of the latest mining hardware to stay competitive.

JPMorgan analysts note that 13 large US mining companies now control over 31% of Bitcoin’s total network power. This represents the highest share ever recorded for American operators.

However, the transition brings risks. If Chinese companies struggle to make US production profitable, they might redirect equipment sales to other countries. This could create shortages in the American market.

Bitmain’s US factory represents more than just one company’s expansion. The move signals a broader shift toward “reshoring” critical technology production.

Other crypto and tech companies may follow similar strategies to avoid trade barriers. This could reshape global supply chains for digital infrastructure..

For Bitcoin miners, local production promises more stable equipment supplies and potentially lower costs over time. However, the industry must still address ongoing concerns about foreign influence in America’s crypto infrastructure.