NVIDIA is probing how restricted H100 chips are ending up in China. Allegations of forged serial numbers and questionable distributor practices, including Super Micro Computer, have triggered a sweeping investigation into compliance breaches.
NVIDIA Investigates Chip Exports Amid US Scrutiny
The US Department of Commerce has reportedly requested that NVIDIA look into the origins of the chips that are still subject to export regulations and how they ended up in China, according to a recent article in The Information.
In response, NVIDIA has requested that its main distributors, such as Super Micro Computer and Dell, perform random audits of their local clientele.
NVIDIA is especially worried about the methods used by some Chinese end-users to fake server serial numbers and get around the current US export restrictions.
An April Baidu search by WCCFTECH turned up many posts, one of which boasted about a massive shipment of NVIDIA H100 chips "arriving in Hong Kong in two weeks, and can be picked up in Shenzhen or Zhengzhou." Data sheets with the Super Micro Computer logo were also attached to some of the posts.
Super Micro Computer’s Role in H100 Chip Distribution
Also at the time, someone was promoting Super Micro Computer's H100 chips in a ZOL post.
This news arrives at a time when relations between NVIDIA and Super Micro Computer are looking tense.
In November, Digi Times revealed that NVIDIA was shifting some of its orders away from SMCI and toward other vendors.
Super Micro Computer Faces Allegations and Nasdaq Scrutiny
In a similar vein, when an analyst questioned Super Micro Computer's CEO Charles Liang on the timing of Blackwell revenues entering the company's books, Liang lamented that "we are asking NVIDIA every day [for those chips]."
For those who may have missed it, in August, Hindenburg Research detailed a laundry list of misconducts at Super Micro Computer in their scathing accusations.
After then, the company put off releasing its annual report for FY 2024 and its quarterly financial statements for Q1 2025 due to such accusations. This excessive delay was determined by the Nasdaq exchange to be incompatible with its listing standards.
Nevertheless, Super Micro Computer was granted a reprieve until February 25, 2025, after Nasdaq accepted their plan to reestablish compliance with the exchange's listing standards on December 6, 2025.
Super Micro Computer’s Stock Plunge and Index Removal
In the meantime, SMCI's stock price has fallen so precipitously that it is no longer included in the Nasdaq 100 index.


US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
Microsoft Stock Upgraded as Stifel Sees Stronger Azure Growth
Meta Connect Spotlights Camera-Free Smart Glasses Amid Privacy Concerns
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Talks Fuel Diplomacy Hopes
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets
SpaceX Nasdaq 100 Weight to More Than Double in Rebalance
China’s ‘Lipstick King’ Says AI Won’t Replace Livestream Hosts
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth
Gold Prices Rise as Oil Slump Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears
South Korea, US Discuss Warship Building Cooperation
OpenAI Agent Breaches Australia Medicare Data Portal
U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield Hits 2007 High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise
Asian Stocks Fall as Bond Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
OpenAI Urges US-Led Global Standards for Frontier AI
US Federal Register Drops Alibaba Qwen AI Search Tool
Gold Prices Rise as Oil Slide Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 



