As the Trump administration’s 90-day pause on crypto-related tariffs temporarily eases pressure on U.S. Bitcoin mining firms, experts say the reprieve may spark a short-term rush in mining rig imports — but underlying challenges remain.Miners Eye Short-Term Advantage Before Tariff ResumptionPresident Donald Trump’s surprise decision to pause reciprocal tariff hikes until July 8, 2025, gives U.S.-based Bitcoin miners a narrow window to secure discounted hardware. However, a baseline 10% tariff still applies to most countries — excluding China, which now faces a 145% tariff rate on imports to the U.S.“We expect to see a short-term spike in machine imports as miners rush to get ahead of potential future tariff hikes,” said Hashlabs CEO Jaran Mellerud in a statement to Cointelegraph.The move follows the April 2 announcement of heightened tariffs on mining rig-exporting countries like Thailand (36%), Indonesia (32%), and Malaysia (24%), which collectively host some of the world’s top mining rig manufacturers.Crypto Mining Rig Prices Already Surging in the USAccording to Luxor Technology COO Ethan Vera, mining machine prices have already jumped in the U.S. due to the uncertainty:“U.S. miners are still looking to purchase machines ahead of the potential further increase in 90 days. In addition, U.S.-landed machines have run up in price, as have contracts with onshore assembly.”With the global hashrate continuing to climb and mining difficulty reaching new highs, the cost of delaying hardware upgrades could hinder competitiveness — especially as overseas miners are spared the same tariff burdens.Policy Whiplash Threatens Long-Term Bitcoin Mining Viability in the USDespite the temporary relief, Mellerud argues that U.S. miners still face a “clear disadvantage” versus international competitors, citing higher capital expenditure and uncertainty that hinders strategic planning.“What miners need is predictability and stable rules — not policy whiplash every few months,” he said.Vera echoed this concern, revealing that Luxor is reevaluating its expansion strategy and may prioritize international markets due to the instability of U.S. policy.Trump’s Bitcoin Vision Faces Tariff ContradictionsIronically, Trump recently stated he wanted all remaining Bitcoin to be mined in the USA, and his family has backed a major mining initiative called “American Bitcoin,” led by Hut 8. The venture aims to build the world’s largest Bitcoin mining firm with U.S.-based reserves.But as Vera noted:“The crypto mining industry simply isn’t a high priority for the Trump administration — we’re collateral in a much broader trade war.”Bitcoin Price and Market ImpactBitcoin (BTC) is down 1.2% in the past 24 hours, currently trading at $80,555, according to CoinGecko.BTC is now 26% off its all-time high of $108,786, recorded on January 20, 2025, the same day Trump returned to the White House, according to Cointelegraph.
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