• Moonshot AI is reportedly seeking Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) Blackwell computing capacity in Europe to bypass U.S. export restrictions.
  • The move highlights the growing importance of overseas cloud access for Chinese AI firms facing hardware bottlenecks.
  • Legal experts note that renting computing power abroad may not violate current chip export rules, but regulatory scrutiny is intensifying.

Moonshot Looks Beyond China for AI Firepower

Beijing-based artificial intelligence developer Moonshot AI has turned to Europe in an effort to secure access to Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell processors, according to people familiar with the matter, as U.S. export controls continue to restrict direct shipments of the chips to China. The company, which develops the Kimi chatbot and large language models, is exploring arrangements to rent computing capacity on overseas servers—a strategy that could allow it to train and run cutting-edge models without importing restricted hardware.

The reported move underscores the mounting pressure on Chinese AI labs to find workarounds for the computing crunch caused by U.S. sanctions. While Washington’s restrictions target physical chip exports, they do not explicitly prohibit Chinese firms from accessing equivalent processing power through cloud services hosted in third countries. This distinction has created a gray area that companies like Moonshot are testing.

A Loophole or a Legal Gray Zone?

“The existing regime controls physical AI chips, not remote access,” said Cassia King, a compute-policy researcher at the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, in an interview. “So an overseas service arrangement could be lawful where the Chinese company does not buy or own the hardware.” However, she cautioned that the legality of any specific deal would depend on its structure and the applicable rules in the host country.

Moonshot’s pursuit of European capacity comes as its latest model, Kimi K3.1 Pro, targets financial research and coding—commercially sensitive areas that are also fiercely contested by U.S. rivals. The company has been on a fundraising tear, reportedly completing a financing round in July at a $35 billion valuation, followed by a subsequent round that valued it at approximately $50 billion, according to Bloomberg. It is also preparing for a potential Hong Kong IPO in early 2027, though those plans remain subject to market conditions.

Revenue Growth and Restructuring

Annual recurring revenue exceeded $200 million in April 2026, according to financial adviser HF Capital, and research firm Sacra estimates that annualized revenue reached $1 billion in August, with a $2 billion year-end target. Those figures are not audited and should be treated as estimates. The company is also reportedly dismantling an offshore corporate structure ahead of a Hong Kong listing, while preserving foreign-investor participation through a joint-venture arrangement.

Moonshot did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Nvidia declined to comment on specific customers, but noted that the company complies with all applicable export regulations.

Regulatory and Political Headwinds

The reported European arrangement is likely to draw scrutiny from U.S. policymakers, who have grown increasingly concerned about Chinese firms circumventing export controls. In August, the Remote Access Security Act passed the House but has not been taken up by the Senate, according to congressional records. The legislation, if enacted, would extend controls to remote access of U.S. technology. Its current status could not be independently verified.

Separately, U.S. official Michael Kratsios has alleged that Moonshot acquired GB300-equipped servers and accessed GB300s in Thailand. Those allegations have not been proven in any judicial or regulatory proceeding. A Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson previously accused Washington of “AI hegemonism” and threatened countermeasures, according to Reuters.

The Broader Trend

Moonshot is not alone in seeking overseas computing power. CNBC has reported that ByteDance, Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), and Tencent (OTC:TCEHY) have also accessed Nvidia processors through locations outside China, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. The trend suggests that U.S. restrictions may be shifting the geography of AI training rather than preventing Chinese firms from developing advanced models.

For European cloud operators, the arrangement could bring high-value demand, but also compliance risks. “Any provider serving Chinese AI firms needs to carefully screen customers and ensure they are not facilitating the diversion of restricted technology,” said a London-based sanctions lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The lines are not always clear.”

As Moonshot’s ambitions grow, its ability to secure reliable computing capacity—whether through Europe or other overseas routes—will be critical to its competitive standing and its planned public listing. The company’s next moves will be watched closely by investors, regulators, and rivals alike.

Update: This article was updated to clarify that the Remote Access Security Act’s status in the Senate could not be independently confirmed.