U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to seize mining equipment at the border, at the request of the Federal Communications Commission.
New Seizure Measures
According to documents reviewed by Blockspace, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun detaining MicroBT and Canaan units at entry points, expanding previous actions involving Antminer S21 and T21 devices. Now, Bitmain units have also been seized.
Month-long Delays
Seizures of imported ASIC miners by Bitmain, requested by the Federal Communications Commission, have caused delays of up to two months. The delays impact seven U.S.-based mining companies, mainly on the West Coast, such as in San Francisco. The reason for these holds or a timeline for resolution is not disclosed.
Impact on Industry
One affected company reported the seizure of $5 million worth of equipment. A CBP letter cited violations related to non-FCC compliant equipment as the reason for confiscation.
These measures could significantly impact the US mining industry, increasing delays and restrictions on importing mining equipment.
