What's going on with Bitcoin in Wyoming?

The national security concerns about the Wyoming site, previously unreported, reflect a broader unease about a recent surge in Chinese Bitcoin mines across the country. Aside from intelligence-gathering worries, the mines, which are large warehouses or containers packed with specialized computers, put immense pressure on power grids.

Are other cryptocurrency companies ties to China?

Records show other cryptocurrency facilities have ties to the Chinese state. Gabriel J.X. Dance has reported on the Bitcoin-mining industry from several states over the past year. Michael Forsythe has covered the nexus between Chinese companies and politics for more than a decade.

Could Bitmain have controlled its mining machines?

Bitmain’s dominance of the mining machine market has raised fears. In the past, researchers found “back doors” that would have allowed the company to covertly operate its equipment. After one was discovered in 2017, the company confirmed it could have remotely controlled its mining machines. A similar issue was found in 2019.