Bitcoin Miners Charter $3M Flights to Combat Trump’s Tariff Hike

U.S. bitcoin miners are scrambling to import ASIC hardware before new tariffs from the Trump administration dramatically increase equipment costs. With prices on gear expected to rise by 22–36%, firms are chartering flights at $2–$3.5 million each to rush deliveries from China and Southeast Asia.

The tariffs, ranging from 24% to over 100% target key countries like China, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Indonesia, where major manufacturers like Bitmain and MicroBT now produce their machines. Although both firms have started limited U.S. production, it covers only a fraction of the demand.

Analysts estimate that U.S. miners imported over $2.3 billion in ASICs last year and $860 million in Q1 2025 alone. If contracted before April 5, shipments would avoid the new tariffs, while deals made between April 5–9 get a 10% reduced rate. However, on Wednesday, Trump paused some of the tariffs for 90 days.

Industry insiders warn that the new tariffs, if implemented, could stall U.S. hashrate growth, currently around 35–40% of global output, shifting mining expansion to regions like Canada, Northern Europe, and parts of South America and Africa. U.S. miners may also turn to mergers and acquisitions as an alternative to pricey imports.

As the industry braces for impact, some experts believe the tariffs could slow U.S. mining growth on a scale similar to China’s 2021 ban. Trump’s temporary halt in the trade war may offer miners a brief window of relief, though the U.S. President continues to apply significant pressure on China.

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