Prices for Nvidia’s banned AI chips have doubled on China’s black market since US export restrictions took effect, pushing premiums above 100%. The surge underscores persistent demand for advanced AI processors despite regulatory prohibitions.
Since the US imposed export controls, listings for Nvidia AI chips on China’s grey-market platforms have risen by over 100%, with individual units trading at double their listed prices. The shift reflects both acute shortages and willingness by buyers to pay steep premiums to secure cutting-edge accelerators.
Domestic AI developers and data center operators are competing fiercely for high-performance GPUs, citing their critical role in training large language models and other machine-learning systems. With official channels closed, many organizations are turning to intermediaries and brokers to bypass restrictions.
While Nvidia does not benefit directly from black-market markups, the price spike highlights sustained end-user demand that could influence future export-control reviews. Policy makers may face pressure to adjust regulations as global competition for AI hardware escalates.
Finance
