Investigation Reveals Network of Chinese Firms Tied to Nvidia GPU Smuggling Worth Billions

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's acknowledged affair with Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive suspected of working as a Chinese intelligence operative, has become the focal point of a sprawling investigation into the diversion of billions of dollars in restricted semiconductor exports. According to reporting by The Information, a network of firms centered on Shanghai Century Litong and connected to Singapore-based Megaspeed operated as a conduit for acquiring Nvidia's most advanced AI processors, with Huang allegedly playing a central role in moving approximately 240,000 prohibited chips—primarily H100 and H200 models—into China and facilitating roughly $7.5 billion in GPU imports over a three-year span.

The investigation traces connections between the two companies through corporate registration documents and personal knowledge of sources, with evidence suggesting that some of the Nvidia chips purchased by Megaspeed ended up in Shanghai Century Litong's data center operations within China. Beyond these business relationships, multiple accounts describe how Huang's personal connection to the Nvidia chief granted her extraordinary access to semiconductors that were otherwise difficult to obtain through standard channels.

Huang reportedly made little effort to conceal her proximity to Nvidia's leadership. According to people who knew her, she regularly posted photographs with Jensen Huang on WeChat and circulated images to business contacts to establish her credibility and access. She claimed that Jensen Huang would mark her birthday with dinners and gifts, and an Nvidia employee based in China confirmed that she was a regular presence at the company's annual gathering for local business partners.

When shipments encountered delays or complications, Huang allegedly intervened to expedite them through the supply chain. Those familiar with her operations said she consistently invoked her relationship with Nvidia and its suppliers as justification for her ability to procure AI chips. Between 2023 and 2025, approximately $4.6 billion in AI chips passed through Megaspeed, with an additional $2 billion routed via Speedmatrix, a subsidiary. Shanghai Century Litong sourced GPUs from multiple suppliers, with Huang's assistance when orders encountered obstacles, bringing the total value of chips acquired to an estimated $7.5 billion.

Earlier Connections

Huang's entry into Nvidia's orbit may predate public awareness by years. A source indicated that Kang Wei, Huang's husband, established contact with Jensen Huang during the 2010s when Nvidia was primarily focused on consumer graphics processing. At that time, Kang Wei worked as a private equity investor specializing in gaming companies. Huang herself held positions at Chinese media firms—though some sources question whether these roles are documented—before transitioning into banking and finance with roles at HSBC and CITIC Securities, eventually moving into the data center sector in 2023 when Megaspeed shifted its focus and Shanghai Century Litong was established.

The Shanghai Century Litong Structure

Shanghai Century Litong, a data center operator launched in June 2023, was founded by a shareholder ultimately controlled by Huang Yu, the sister of Alice Huang, whose Chinese name is Huang Le. The company supplied computational resources to major Chinese AI technology firms including Alibaba and Tencent, as well as smaller research operations. Within months of its establishment, it secured Nvidia Preferred Cloud Partner status in October 2023—a designation that requires demonstrated competency in managing Nvidia hardware and achieving specified revenue thresholds, which vary by region and partner classification.

This partnership status provided Shanghai Century Litong preferential access to Nvidia's constrained chip inventory at a critical juncture. The China-specific A800 and H800 models faced export restrictions around the same period, yet the ban did not affect existing stocks held by distributors. As a preferred partner, Shanghai Century Litong gained priority claim to these limited supplies.

Megaspeed and Speedmatrix Operations

Megaspeed, reportedly controlled by an entity called Huang Le Limited and led by Huang when it pivoted in 2023, was subsequently sold to the Singapore-based firm Swiftdata. The company then established Speedmatrix as a subsidiary, opening two offices in Johor, Malaysia shortly thereafter. When the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security conducted inspections at Speedmatrix data centers, investigators discovered Nvidia hardware still in unopened boxes, prompting an expanded inquiry. Reports suggest that Nvidia intervened in the Bureau's investigation, and the company has retained its partner status with Nvidia to the present day.

Operational Discretion

Despite her visible association with Nvidia's chief executive, Huang maintains a low profile regarding her personal background and business activities. Multiple acquaintances described her as deliberately vague about her operational roles and cautious about signing documents or creating records that could be readily traced. The Chinese embassy has denied any connection to Huang, even as the FBI pursues its own examination of the matter.