President Joe Biden ordered a halt to operations at a cryptocurrency mining facility located near Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming on Monday, citing national security concerns.
The White House directive targeted MineOne, a cryptocurrency mining company registered in the British Virgin Islands but with majority ownership by Chinese nationals. The order mandated the removal of all improvements and mining equipment from the property located within a mile of the Cheyenne military facility, which houses Minuteman III nuclear missiles.
According to the White House, an investigation into MineOne's acquisition of the land in 2022 was prompted by a tip alleging the company bypassed the mandatory filing process with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
The order, accompanied by a statement from the Department of the Treasury, cited the presence of "specialized equipment on the property used to conduct cryptocurrency mining operations, some of which is foreign-sourced and presents significant national security concerns." The Treasury Department further emphasized the role of CFIUS in safeguarding national security "particularly as it relates to transactions that present risk to sensitive U.S. military installations as well as those involving specialized equipment and technologies." Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen issued a statement echoing this sentiment.
As of now, MineOne has not responded to a request for comment sent through their website.
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