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DHS-led “Operation Red Sunset” examined whether Bitmain mining machines could enable espionage or grid risks.
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The probe included firmware inspections and hardware tests at US ports.
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Bitmain denies all allegations and says it has no remote-control capabilities.
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The investigation continues amid political concern over Chinese mining activity near sensitive US sites.
A Quiet National Security Probe Comes to Light
Bloomberg reports that Bitmain, the world’s largest bitcoin-mining machine maker, has been under a months-long US national security investigation. The DHS-led inquiry, called Operation Red Sunset, examined whether Bitmain hardware could be remotely manipulated for spying or grid disruption.
The probe reportedly began under the Biden administration and continued into early 2025.
Security Risks Heightened by Proximity to Sensitive Facilities
Concerns escalated after reports that mining operations tied to China were located near critical US infrastructure. One site was found near a Microsoft data center supporting Pentagon operations, and another near a nuclear missile base in Wyoming. Many of these facilities used Bitmain’s equipment.
Bitmain Strongly Rejects the Claims
Bitmain said it has never engaged in activities that threaten US national security and denied possessing any ability to remotely control machines. The company says past equipment detentions were routine FCC procedures, not signs of wrongdoing.
It also dismissed allegations of Chinese government ties, calling them “unequivocally false.”
Political Tension Grows as Trump Family Enters Mining
The investigation has gained new attention as Donald Trump’s sons expand their mining company, American Bitcoin, which recently purchased 16,000 Bitmain machines. The firm says it performed its own security checks and found no vulnerabilities.
