US Senators Target Chinese Crypto Mining Hardware with New Legislation
Republican senators Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis have introduced legislation aimed at banning US crypto mining operations from using hardware linked to China and other foreign adversaries. The bill, dubbed the Cassidy-Lummis Mining Bill, would force certified mining facilities to phase out equipment sourced from hostile nations.
The proposal also seeks to codify President Donald Trump's 2025 executive order that created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve housed within the Treasury Department. This reserve was a key part of Trump's 2024 campaign promise to bring Bitcoin mining back to American soil, although recent tariff policies have complicated this effort due to China being the primary supplier of required hardware.
Under the bill, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership would assist domestic manufacturers in building secure, energy-efficient mining equipment. Senator Cassidy stated that 'digital asset mining is a big part of our economy' and that this bill will 'secure supply chains, bolster US manufacturing, and support this industry.'