Senator Elizabeth Warren has formally questioned the US Commerce Department about its handling of national security risks linked to Bitmain, the China-based maker of most of the world’s Bitcoin mining hardware.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Warren requested all communications and documents related to Bitmain. Her inquiry follows reports of an active federal investigation-dubbed “Operation Red Sunset”-led by the Department of Homeland Security. That probe is examining whether Bitmain’s ASIC machines could be remotely exploited for espionage or used to destabilize the US power grid.
Federal authorities previously flagged Bitmain equipment deployed near a US military base as raising “significant national security concerns.” The company also faces scrutiny over alleged ties to sanctioned Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Adding political complexity, American Bitcoin Corp.-backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump-signed a $314 million deal last year to buy 16,000 Bitmain rigs. Warren’s letter specifically asks whether Trump family members or their firm have communicated with Commerce officials, and what safeguards exist against political interference in national security reviews.
Bitmain plans to open its first US chip manufacturing plant in 2026, even as the unresolved investigation continues with no public timeline.