Nvidia has drastically reduced the number of Asian customers authorized to purchase its artificial intelligence chips, cutting the approved list by more than half.
The move reflects the company’s tightening compliance posture in response to stricter US export controls, effectively implementing a new "white list" of approved buyers in the region.
The contraction in the customer base underscores the growing friction between US technology policy and Asian demand for high-performance computing hardware.
By narrowing the pool of eligible buyers, Nvidia is prioritizing regulatory adherence over broad market access, a shift that could reshape supply chains for AI infrastructure across the region.
This development follows heightened scrutiny of the company’s international sales practices.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been invited to testify before the Senate Banking Committee, where Senator Elizabeth Warren is intensifying oversight of the firm’s sales to China and its compliance with US export restrictions.