US tariffs on mining rigs surge, CleanSpark and IREN face risks

The Bitcoin mining industry in the United States is under mounting pressure. Rising US tariffs on mining equipment from Asia have increased operational costs for miners and created significant risks for publicly traded companies.

Rising costs for US miners

According to The Miner Mag, tariff rates now stand at 57.6% on rigs from China and 21.6% on machines from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

As a result, CleanSpark has warned it may face liabilities of up to $185 million, while IREN is disputing a separate $100 million claim with Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

At the same time, mining revenues remain under pressure. The network’s hashprice has stayed below $60 per petahash, while transaction fees dropped below 1% of block rewards.

Hardware makers move to the US

The ongoing trade war is forcing not only miners but also hardware manufacturers to adapt. Leading Chinese ASIC makers — Bitmain, Canaan, and MicroBT — have begun setting up facilities in the US to minimize tariff exposure.

Canaan stands out with a bold strategy: it relocated its headquarters to Singapore and announced US-based investments designed to bypass trade barriers.

Outlook for the mining industry

Analysts warn that higher tariffs could dampen domestic demand for rigs, potentially giving foreign operators a competitive edge. However, the ultimate outcome will depend on how US trade and tariff policy evolves in the coming months.

In this shifting environment, American Bitcoin miners are forced to diversify supply chains, manage rising costs and adopt more sophisticated import strategies to remain competitive in the global mining market.