Chinese Crypto Miner Near Missile Base Shut Down By Biden

President Joe Biden of the United States has issued a directive halting the operations of a crypto mining company with ties to China, which had been utilizing land in close proximity to a nuclear missile installation in Wyoming.

On May 13, the White House issued a directive compelling MineOne Cloud Computing Investment and its affiliates to sell off assets utilized for a cryptocurrency mining operation adjacent to the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Acquiring the property in June 2022, MineOne proceeded to enhance it for crypto mining, strategically locating it near the Air Force base. The base, noted for housing intercontinental ballistic missiles, serves as a crucial military installation, as stated in the order.

The company and its associated entities must also dismantle any equipment installed on the premises following the enhancements. Furthermore, the directive bars any further access to the site by entities linked to China, located within a mile of the base.

Crypto Mining Shift: China To U.S.

However, The computer giant Microsoft has raised red flags about this specific site in the past since it has a data centre nearby. According to a 2023 investigation by The New York Times, in an August 2022 report to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), the Microsoft team suggested that the site’s positioning could enable the Chinese to conduct comprehensive intelligence gathering operations.

Janet Yellen, both Treasury Secretary and committee chairperson, emphasized that instructing MineOne to divest its land underscores CFIUS’s crucial role as a guardian, ensuring that foreign investments don’t jeopardize our national security.

The Biden Administration has previously initiated a stringent approach towards the U.S. Bitcoin mining sector, drawing inspiration from China’s actions as it continues its campaign against cryptocurrencies. In 2021, the Chinese government imposed significant restrictions on crypto mining, prompting a migration of mining operations to the United States.

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