Quick Summary
- Sharetronic Data Technology in Shenzhen revealed purchasing documents for $92 million in restricted Nvidia server hardware
- Hardware includes Nvidia H100 and H200 processors, which require US government authorization for China sales since 2022
- Company shares plummeted almost 10% following the revelation
- Dell and Super Micro deny any sales transactions with Sharetronic
- Revelation emerges same day federal authorities indict Super Micro co-founder for illegal chip exports to China
An artificial intelligence data center operator based in Shenzhen, Sharetronic Data Technology, has revealed purchasing documentation indicating acquisition of 276 Super Micro computing servers equipped with Nvidia H100 and H200 processors. The documented purchase totals 632 million yuan, equivalent to approximately $92 million.
Since 2022, both the H100 and H200 processors have required explicit authorization from Washington for any sales to Chinese entities. These export controls were implemented by the United States government to restrict China’s advancement in artificial intelligence technologies with potential military applications.
Reporters at Bloomberg News discovered these invoices within documentation submitted to Chinese regulatory bodies. The purchasing records, carrying dates from May through June of the previous year, document transactions between Sharetronic and one of its subsidiary companies.
This revelation coincided with US prosecutors filing charges against Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw, a founding member of Super Micro Computer, accusing him of orchestrating illegal exports of Nvidia-based servers valued at $2.5 billion to Chinese buyers. Liaw has entered a plea of not guilty.
Sharetronic’s publicly traded shares experienced a decline approaching 10% in Shenzhen trading on Friday, positioning it as the most significant decliner within the MSCI Asia Index for that trading session.
Corporate Responses and Denials
Super Micro issued a statement asserting it has no sales history with Sharetronic and does not recognize the firm as a client. Dell similarly reported finding “no record of the alleged sales.” Nvidia emphasized that its distribution partners operate under strict guidelines prohibiting delivery of regulated servers absent US governmental clearance.
In its official response, Sharetronic maintained that all its hardware acquisitions originated from “legal and compliant channels.” The company avoided directly addressing questions regarding the specific invoices and refused to provide additional information about equipment procurement, referencing customer confidentiality obligations.
Sharetronic further rejected any claims of conducting business operations with Super Micro.
The original source of Sharetronic’s server inventory remains unidentified. The invoices themselves do not specify the initial vendor.
Nvidia Partnership Status
A joint business entity operated by Sharetronic, Guangzhou Fcloud Technology, maintains official recognition as an Nvidia Cloud Partner, representing one of merely eight such designated organizations within China. This certification signifies Nvidia’s assessment that the organization possesses adequate capabilities for delivering secure infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence operations.
Following receipt of this partnership designation, Sharetronic publicly announced procurement intentions totaling 32.2 billion yuan in computing equipment.
The discovered invoices additionally documented a secondary purchase of 32 Dell PowerEdge XE9680 servers. Every hardware configuration compatible with these particular servers fell under US export restriction regulations by the dates appearing on the invoices.
Federal prosecutors have not publicly identified whether Sharetronic appears among the undisclosed Chinese recipients referenced in the Super Micro criminal case.
