Bitcoin Mining Companies in the US are Rushing to Import ASIC Equipment Before New Tariff Deadlines, Ready to Spend Up to $3.5 Million per Cargo Flight to Avoid Tariffs That Could Increase Hardware Prices by Up to 36%.
The Bitcoin mining industry in the US is facing significant input cost volatility, as the Trump administration prepares to reimpose tariffs on over 180 countries – including key equipment production centers in Asia. The new tariffs are expected to take effect from April 9, prompting many US businesses to urgently transport equipment back to the country before this date to minimize cost risks.
Ethan Vera, Chief Operating Officer of Luxor, stated in the Mining Pod industry newsletter that the market is falling into a "completely chaotic" state. He mentioned that many companies did not order early and are now forced to spend millions of dollars on specialized transport flights – with costs ranging from $2 to $3.5 million per flight, 2-4 times the normal price – to bring equipment to the US in time.
According to Vera, some Miners can completely avoid tariffs if goods arrive before April 5 or only face a preferential 10% tariff if imported between April 5 and 9. However, as the tax deadline approaches, transportation costs are expected to continue escalating.
Vera estimates that ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) Mining Rig prices – which have already been slightly declining over the past year – could increase by 22% to 36% due to tariff impacts. For example, the Antminer S21 model is currently priced around $3,400 but could significantly increase in price if new tariffs are imposed.
The highest expected tariff rates include 24% for imports from Malaysia, 36% from Thailand, 32% from Indonesia, and up to 104% for China – previously the main production center for top ASIC manufacturers like Bitmain and MicroBT. In response, both companies have moved their production operations out of China since previous tariff rounds during the Trump era.
However, domestic production capacity in the US remains insufficient to meet demand. Although MicroBT has deployed assembly lines in the US since 2023 and Bitmain began production early this year, domestic output still represents a small percentage. According to Blockspace data, US Miners imported ASIC equipment worth over $2.3 billion in 2024 and over $860 million in Q1 2025. Even domestic factories will be impacted if input components like aluminum and electronic chips – primarily imported from China – are subject to 50-104% tariffs.
The projected cost increase is expected to significantly slow the growth rate of hashrate – total computational power of the Bitcoin network – in the US, which currently accounts for about 35-40% of global hashrate. Vera assesses the upcoming tariffs as a "strong blow" to the US Bitcoin mining industry. "If you have to pay over 36% more for the same equipment compared to competitors in Canada or Russia, your competitive advantage will clearly be eroded," he notes.
Industry Structure Changes and Geographic Relocation Trends
Cost pressures are also driving industry restructuring strategies. According to Taras Kulyk, CEO of Synteq Digital, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities are likely to increase. In a context of expensive new equipment, acquiring existing mines, even those operating older equipment, becomes more economically attractive.
"Suddenly, Mining Rigs once considered 'zombies' become valuable assets," he added. The secondary ASIC market is currently stagnating as many investors wait for clearer tariff developments.
Internationally, experts suggest US tax policies might trigger a geographic relocation wave in mining activities. Canada is emerging as a potential destination due to corporate tax benefits and data center incentive policies. However, Kulyk notes potential barriers like new electricity connection suspensions in Ontario and Quebec could slow this trend.
Additionally, regions like Northern Europe, South America, and Africa are considered potential hashrate attraction zones, especially as the US might gradually lose its leading position if new tax policies persist.
Vera warns that this tariff policy's impact could be equivalent to China's Bitcoin mining ban in 2021 – an event that previously transformed the global hashrate map. If high tariffs are maintained long-term, the US might lose its role as the primary growth driver of the global mining industry.
A potential side effect could be decreased ASIC prices in the international market due to weakened demand from US companies – previously the largest customer group. "International Miners will ultimately benefit," Vera notes, while emphasizing that the US's abundant energy sources remain a fundamental advantage difficult to replace.
