Sharetronic procured $92 million in banned Nvidia chips via Super Micro
Sharetronic Data Technology, a Chinese tech firm, procured hundreds of Super Micro systems containing banned Nvidia H100 and H200 AI processors, reportedly worth $92 million. The acquisition reportedly occurred through channels that circumvented U.S. export controls in place since 2022, with records suggesting systems were transferred between company entities.
What happened
Sharetronic Data Technology, a Chinese tech company, procured hundreds of Super Micro systems containing high-end Nvidia H100 and H200 processors valued at approximately $92 million.
Records suggest that Sharetronic obtained technology that has been banned from being sold to or used within China without U.S. approval since 2022, with some systems reportedly transferred between company entities.
The acquisition came to light after U.S. authorities charged a co-founder of Super Micro Computer with illegally smuggling advanced AI chips into China.
Reported impact
The situation highlights strong demand in China for restricted AI hardware and gaps in enforcement of U.S. export controls on advanced AI chips.
The case underscores the difficulty of tracking where sensitive technology ends up, despite Nvidia and Super Micro stating they do not knowingly supply restricted products without proper authorization.
Index analysis
Bloomberg reported that Sharetronic quickly denied any connection to Super Micro and said it complies with all hardware purchasing regulations, though records tell a more complicated story.
The overall scale is small compared to major tech giants, but the situation highlights questions about whether current export control measures are sufficient to limit the global flow of advanced AI chips.
Governance controls
U.S. export controls prohibiting sales of advanced Nvidia chips to China without Washington approval have been in place since 2022.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.