A Senator Writes to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Demanding Explanation on the National Security Review of Bitmain

Odaily News U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, requesting documents and communication records related to Bitmain to understand how the Department of Commerce is handling the potential national security risks posed by the company.

Bitmain is a leading global manufacturer of Bitcoin mining machines. In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiated an investigation codenamed "Operation Red Sunset" to examine whether Bitmain's ASIC miners could be remotely accessed for espionage or to disrupt the U.S. power grid. It is reported that the investigation remains ongoing.

Previously, shipments of Bitmain equipment were halted, and the use of its miners near U.S. military bases was flagged as posing significant national security risks. Warren's letter also demands that the Department of Commerce provide details of communications between Bitmain, the Trump family, and Department of Commerce officials. The Trump-backed American Bitcoin Corp. had previously purchased 16,000 Bitmain miners for $314 million.