NVIDIA Tightens the Screws: Authorized AI GPU Customers Halved

NVIDIA has reportedly introduced a new whitelist of verified customers with the aim of making it much more difficult for illegal imports of AI GPUs into China. According to the Financial Times, the company has reduced by more than half the number of companies authorized to purchase its AI-targeted products, maintaining in the list only those entities that have passed the most stringent compliance checks.

This decision comes after increased pressure from U.S. authorities for the manufacturer to strengthen verification systems related to exports. In recent months, several cases of alleged smuggling of NVIDIA accelerators and AI servers to China have emerged, despite the restrictions imposed by the U.S. on advanced technologies.

To obtain verified customer status, mere corporate documentation is not sufficient. NVIDIA has reportedly conducted direct inspections at customer data centers, verified commercial contracts, and conducted interviews with end-users of the hardware. The goal is to exclude any shell companies created solely to purchase AI GPUs and subsequently redirect them to destinations subject to trade restrictions.

The tightening of checks follows a series of international investigations. Among the most relevant incidents is the arrest of Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan "Wally" Liaw, along with two other suspects, as part of an investigation into the alleged illegal trafficking of NVIDIA hardware valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Investigative operations have also affected Singapore, where authorities seized a villa worth $42 million linked to the alleged AI GPU traffickers, as well as Taiwan, where the offices of Supermicro and two supply chain partners were searched.

Since 2022, the U.S. has prohibited exports to China of the most advanced AI GPUs, but various investigations have highlighted how many Chinese companies still manage to procure these accelerators through alternative channels. The strengthening of controls by Washington and allied countries has significantly reduced these flows, increasing procurement difficulties for Chinese enterprises involved in AI development.

In December 2025, the Trump administration had again authorized the export of NVIDIA H200 GPUs to a selection of customers, but Beijing reportedly prevented local companies from purchasing these products and preferred to support the growth of domestic semiconductor manufacturers. According to some sources quoted by the Financial Times, this strategy has not resolved the issue: several Chinese suppliers are already reported to be out of stock, and some companies are considering purchasing less powerful processors just to continue developing their AI projects.

Alongside the revision of the whitelist, NVIDIA has also asked its commercial partners to enhance compliance with export regulations. Earlier this year, CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the need for all parties involved in distributing the company's products to improve compliance processes to avoid new incidents of illegal exports.