Supermicro Stock (SMCI) Plummets 27% After CEO Charged in $2.5B Nvidia AI Chip Smuggling Scheme to China

Supermicro Computer (SMCI) shares crashed 27% on Friday, March 20, 2026, in a dramatic market reaction after U.S. authorities charged its co-founder and Senior Vice President with orchestrating a scheme to smuggle $2.5 billion worth of restricted Nvidia AI chips to China. The indictment alleges employees used dummy devices to deceive inspectors, shipping U.S.-assembled servers with high-end Nvidia chips via Taiwan facilities, sending shockwaves through the tech and semiconductor sectors.