Moonshot AI Bypasses US Bans Using Nvidia B300 GPUs
Chinese startup Moonshot AI accessed banned Nvidia B300 GPUs by renting servers from Super Micro Computer Inc. through Southeast Asian data centers.
Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI accessed Nvidia's advanced B300 GPUs this summer by renting 32 servers from Super Micro Computer Inc. The activity bypassed United States export restrictions on high-end chips, including the Blackwell and Rubin series, which are banned due to security and military concerns.
Chinese firms, including Alibaba and Bytedance, have increasingly used data centers in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand to rent computing power and circumvent these controls. While the U.S. government has eased restrictions on the less powerful H200 chip, developers in China continue to seek cutting-edge hardware to remain competitive.
The situation occurs amid increased scrutiny of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who admitted to an affair with a Chinese businesswoman suspected by the U.S. of smuggling AI microchips. Super Micro Computer Corp is currently facing a Department of Justice probe over illegal chip sales. In response to these restrictions, Beijing is promoting domestic alternatives, with Huawei developing next-generation AI chips expected by the first quarter of 2027.
