The US approved NVIDIA chips for New Matrix, a firm with an empty office. The company, started 17 months ago, has no directory listing at its claimed address. Reports show owners have links to a Chinese firm on a 2024 US blacklist, raising serious questions about current government vetting processes.
New Matrix, which was established 17 months ago, doesn't have a company directory listed at the address it claims to be located.
The building's property management agency also confirmed that they have no record of this company.
Further raising eyebrows are the owners' connections with a Chinese private equity firm that has been on the US government's blacklist since 2024.
The New York Times's investigation suggests that this isn't an isolated incident.
It points to a worrying trend of companies linked to those with national-security-related trade restrictions being allowed to buy NVIDIA chips.
This has raised questions about the thoroughness of the vetting process by both the US government and NVIDIA, especially given the potential national security implications.
Under the Biden administration, NVIDIA was restricted from selling chips to China.
However, the Trump administration eased these restrictions after NVIDIA agreed to share 15% of all sales with the government.
The company's CEO Jensen Huang also led an aggressive lobbying campaign and was reportedly targeted by China's Ministry of State Security in a spying operation.