Warren Requests Bitmain Security Risk Documents

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, sent a letter this week to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick requesting documents and communications related to national security risks posed by Bitmain Technologies, the Chinese company that manufactures the majority of the world's Bitcoin mining hardware. The inquiry, dated Thursday, highlights ongoing federal concerns about whether Bitmain's equipment could enable espionage or disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure, including the power grid.

The letter follows reports of a federal investigation, codenamed Operation Red Sunset and led by the Department of Homeland Security, which examined potential vulnerabilities in Bitmain's application-specific integrated circuit miners. These always-on, internet-connected devices consume significant electricity and are deployed widely across U.S. energy networks. A May 2024 federal review specifically identified risks from Bitmain equipment near sensitive military installations, citing possibilities for remote access by foreign entities. The probe's status remains unclear, as national security investigations often extend for years without public resolution, according to officials...