US Homeland Security secretly investigated Bitmain over national security concerns

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security included Chinese mining rig manufacturer Bitmain as a key target in a confidential investigation dubbed "Operation Red Sunset," The Block reported. The probe was conducted to determine whether Bitmain's mining equipment could be remotely manipulated for espionage or pose a threat to the security of the U.S. power grid. An investigative team examined the chips and firmware of Bitmain devices seized at U.S. ports, a process that ran parallel to policy discussions at the White House National Security Council (NSC). The team also looked into potential customs and import tax violations, but the results and status of the investigation have not been made public.