Nvidia reportedly developing new AI chip for China amid export restrictions

Nvidia is reportedly working on the B30A AI chip for China, designed to balance performance with US export restrictions. Nvidia is reportedly working on the B30A AI chip for China, designed to balance performance with US export restrictions.

Nvidia, the world’s most valuable chipmaker, is reportedly working on a new artificial intelligence processor designed specifically for the Chinese market. According to Reuters, which cited anonymous sources, the company is developing a chip codenamed B30A that will be less powerful than its flagship B300 Blackwell GPU but stronger than the current H20 models permitted for sale in China.

The B30A is expected to deliver improved performance compared to the H20 while complying with US export controls that limit the computing capabilities of advanced chips shipped to China. Unlike the dual-die design of the B300, the B30A is said to feature a single-die architecture. Despite this, it will include many of the same features as the H20, such as fast data transmission, support for NVLink, and high-bandwidth memory.

Reports suggest that Nvidia is developing the B30A independently of another chip the company is also said to be working on for China. This indicates a broader strategy to adapt its roadmap for a market that continues to be lucrative despite growing political and regulatory headwinds.

In an emailed statement, Nvidia did not confirm details of the B30A but stressed its compliance with government regulations. “We evaluate a variety of products for our roadmap, so that we can be prepared to compete to the extent that governments allow. Everything we offer is with the full approval of the applicable authorities and designed solely for beneficial commercial use,” the company said.

The timing of this development is significant, as recent weeks have seen the Trump administration adopt a somewhat softer stance on high-performance chip exports to China. Still, Reuters reported that approvals for the new chip are far from certain. With tensions between Washington and Beijing tied increasingly to the race for AI dominance, the regulatory environment remains unpredictable.

The stakes for Nvidia are high. China represents one of the largest potential markets for AI hardware, and losing ground there could strengthen rivals such as Huawei, which has been rapidly developing its own AI solutions. For Nvidia and its peers, the challenge is to balance compliance with US export rules while maintaining access to a market that could define long-term growth.

As the global AI race intensifies, Nvidia’s efforts to craft a customised solution for China underline just how strategic the region remains, even under tightening restrictions. Whether the B30A gains approval will depend as much on political decisions as on technical design.