Nvidia Tightens AI Chip Controls With New Whitelist

Nvidia has slashed its authorized client list and implemented a whitelist to prevent illegal AI GPU smuggling into China amid US pressure.

Following pressure from Washington, Nvidia has reportedly reduced its authorized client base by more than half and established a whitelist of verified companies to stop AI chip smuggling. The Financial Times reports that Nvidia is deploying staff to data centers, verifying contracts, and interviewing end users to ensure legitimacy. This crackdown follows the arrest of Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan Liaw for allegedly smuggling $2.5 billion in hardware and Taiwanese raids on supply-chain partners. While President Trump permitted H200 GPU exports to select customers in December 2025, Beijing has blocked domestic firms from purchasing them. In May 2026, CEO Jensen Huang directed partners to enhance compliance to uphold the US export ban active since 2022.