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- Bitcoin miners in the US accelerated equipment imports to beat new tariffs reaching up to 104% on goods from Asia.
- Some mining firms even booked chartered flights costing millions to avoid future import costs under the upcoming US global trade policy.
In recent weeks, the atmosphere in the Bitcoin mining industry in the United States has been like a race. Not a hash rate race, but a race for time before new import tariffs that could reach 104% come into effect. Industry players, particularly significant mining corporations, are working swiftly to bring equipment from China, Malaysia, Thailand, and other Asian countries.
What makes you scratch your head is that some have even rented flights for $2 million to $3.5 million for every shipment to avoid additional charges that could drain your wallet.
To cope with the new round of U.S. global tariff policies, Bitcoin miners are accelerating the importation of mining equipment from China, Malaysia, Thailand, and other regions before the tariffs take effect. Some large mining companies are even chartering flights at costs…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) April 9, 2025
Bitcoin Miners: Scramble Ahead of Price Surge
Understandable, because if these new tariffs are implemented, the price of mining equipment is expected to increase by between 22% and 36%. That is clearly not good news for industry players whose margins are getting thinner due to increasingly fierce competition.
According to the latest report, the value of Bitcoin mining equipment imports by the US during the first quarter of 2025 was already more than $860 million. That figure does not include goods that are in flight or have just departed from the port. With a situation like this, everything is speeding up, a kind of panic buying but in the big industry version.
New Tariffs Jolt Investors and Crypto Mining Giants
On the other hand, the effects of this tariff policy were also immediately felt in the financial market. After President Donald Trump announced the new tariffs on April 3, 2025, crypto company stocks immediately plunged in the pre-market session.
At that time, Coinbase Global fell around 4%, Strategy fell 3%, and mining players such as MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, and Bitfarms recorded losses of between 4% and 6%. Even Bitcoin and Ether were also under pressure, falling 2.3% and 3.3%, respectively.
Investors seem to be starting to withdraw from assets considered risky, while waiting for the situation to become clearer. This new tariff has indeed made the market atmosphere even more tense, especially amidst the uncertainty of global trade policies. If you thought the crypto market was immune to macroeconomic issues, well… now is the time to think again.
Trump Sons Dive Into Crypto Amid Rising Barriers
On the other hand, CNF previously reported that Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. had also entered the world of Bitcoin mining through a new company called American Bitcoin. Together with Hut 8, a Florida software company, they plan to build a mine that they say will be the most efficient. The ownership structure has also been divided: Hut 8 holds 80% of the shares, the rest is held by American Data Centers.
Matt Prusak will lead as CEO, and Eric Trump has been appointed as Chief Strategy Officer. Quite interesting, considering the new tariff policy has made entering this sector even more challenging. But maybe they see a long-term opportunity—or maybe they just don’t like playing it safe.
Pakistan and Bhutan Carve Unique Paths in Bitcoin Mining
However, it’s not just the US that’s making moves. On the other side of the world, Pakistan is formulating its own strategy to enter the mining and AI sector. Its government plans to utilize the nation’s electricity surplus by opening the door to AI data centers and Bitcoin mining operations.
Bilal Bin Saqib, head of the Pakistan Crypto Council, said that this initiative could be a solution to two problems at once: excessively expensive electricity prices and unused power capacity. Even more exciting, Changpeng Zhao aka CZ, the former boss of Binance, is also involved as a strategic advisor. It is not yet known which companies have agreed, but talks are said to be ongoing and will focus on areas with excess power.
On the other hand, CNF also reported that Bhutan is continuing its unique approach to Bitcoin. They use hydropower for mining and are said to hold reserves of over $1 billion in BTC.
The new Gelephu Mindfulness City is also planned to integrate Bitcoin and Ethereum as part of the national financial reserve. It may sound like an ambitious strategy, but with a structured approach and support from renewable resources, Bhutan seems pretty confident.
