The Trump administration is rolling out a fresh framework to screen critical mineral imports and determine whether foreign shipments pose risks to US national security. This move caps several months of policy review that could reshape supply chains across the sector.

Why should miners and hardware makers care? Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths are essential components in mining rigs and blockchain infrastructure. Stricter import controls typically ripple through as higher equipment costs. Tighter sourcing could push up operational expenses for miners, especially smaller operations, while potentially benefiting domestic mining hardware manufacturers.

The policy underscores the growing intersection of geopolitics, national security strategy, and the physical infrastructure powering decentralized networks. Depending on implementation details, this could reshape competitive dynamics in the mining sector and influence where new mining farms decide to set up shop.