GAIN Act: US Senate Prioritizes Domestic AI Chip Supply, Potentially Disrupting Global Markets
The US Senate passed the GAIN Act with a 77-20 vote, embedding it into the NDAA 2026. This legislation mandates that AI chip manufacturers prioritize US customers before exporting products abroad. Congress retains authority to block export licenses for cutting-edge circuits, framing the MOVE as a national security measure.
Nvidia and other industry leaders criticize the policy as protectionist, warning it could stifle global innovation. crypto miners face immediate fallout, with anticipated cost surges and supply chain bottlenecks for high-performance computing hardware.
The law's architecture mirrors the Patriot Act's expansion of government oversight, raising questions about its long-term impact on technological sovereignty. Semiconductor supply chains may bifurcate, creating separate ecosystems for US-allied and non-aligned nations.
