The Trump administration’s aggressive tariff policy is poised to significantly undercut demand for Bitcoin mining rigs in the United States — a shift that could prove advantageous for mining operations abroad, according to Hashlabs Mining CEO Jaran Mellerud.
In a recent report, Mellerud explained that the newly imposed tariffs, which drive up import costs, are making mining equipment far less affordable in the U.S. As a result, manufacturers are expected to pivot their focus to international markets where prices remain more competitive. “Ironically, while rig prices climb in the U.S., we could see them fall elsewhere,” Mellerud observed. “Demand for shipping equipment to the U.S. is expected to nosedive, possibly approaching zero.”
This shift in distribution could create ripple effects across the global mining landscape. With manufacturers holding excess inventory originally intended for the U.S. market, Mellerud noted they will likely need to lower prices in other regions to clear out surplus stock. These cheaper rigs could enable non-U.S. mining operations to scale up more aggressively, allowing them to capture a larger share of Bitcoin’s total hashrate.
The policy backdrop fueling these developments took shape on April 2, when President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” initiative targeting nearly every country. These escalating trade tensions, especially between the U.S. and China, have also reignited investor interest in Bitcoin and other alternative assets, as concerns over broader economic implications grow.
Mellerud provided a concrete example to illustrate the impact of the tariffs: a mining rig that previously cost $1,000 would now be priced at $1,240 in the U.S. due to the new import duties. In contrast, countries like Finland — not subject to these tariffs — would see no change in pricing. “In a sector as cost-sensitive as Bitcoin mining, a 24% price hike on equipment could render operations economically unviable,” he warned.
The fallout from the tariffs has not been limited to mining equipment alone. Broader crypto markets have also reacted, with Bitcoin (BTC) dropping 4% in the past 24 hours to around $76,470, according to CoinGecko data.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
