Alice Huang’s China links: Firms related to her promised Nvidia Blackwell chips to DeepSeek despite US ban, report says

Companies linked to Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang have invested in artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek and reportedly committed to supplying it with advanced Nvidia processors that are restricted from export to China, according to a report by The Information.

The companies associated with Huang, also known as Huang Le, participated in DeepSeek's second funding round, the report said. The investment was aimed at building closer business ties with the AI startup and positioning Huang's business network as a potential supplier of Nvidia's high-end processors.

The size of the investment has not been disclosed. It is also unclear whether the promised chips have been delivered to DeepSeek.

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

1

Which companies linked to Alice Huang reportedly invested in DeepSeek?⌵

The Information reported that companies associated with Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, participated in DeepSeek’s second funding round. The article identifies her business network as including Megaspeed International and Shanghai Century Litong, or Litong.

2

What Nvidia chips did Alice Huang-linked firms reportedly promise to supply DeepSeek?⌵

The companies reportedly committed to supplying DeepSeek with Nvidia Blackwell processors. These advanced chips are subject to US export restrictions on sales to China.

3

Have the promised Nvidia Blackwell chips been delivered to DeepSeek?⌵

The report does not establish whether the promised chips were delivered. The article says this remains unclear.

4

Why has the reported DeepSeek chip arrangement drawn attention?⌵

It involves a reported commitment to supply China’s DeepSeek with advanced Nvidia processors restricted from export to China. The arrangement has renewed scrutiny of chip movements through Alice Huang’s business network.

5

What has Litong said about its business relationship with Alice Huang?⌵

Litong denied having business dealings with Huang and said its business resources were obtained through compliant channels. The article presents the reported role of Litong in chip movements as an allegation.

The reported arrangement has brought renewed attention to the business network associated with Huang and the movement of advanced semiconductor technology into China. It comes as Washington continues to enforce restrictions on exports of high-performance AI chips to the country.

According to The Information, Huang's business network includes Singapore-based data centre operator Megaspeed International and China-based Shanghai Century Litong, commonly known as Litong.

Litong has allegedly played a significant role in the movement of Nvidia AI processors into China. The report said the company helped bring approximately 240,000 Nvidia chips, collectively valued at at least $7.5 billion, into the country since 2023.

The reported supply arrangement with DeepSeek is significant because it involves Nvidia's Blackwell processors, among the chipmaker's most advanced products. These processors are subject to US export restrictions on sales to China.

In a separate report, The Information said Litong had denied having business dealings with Huang, stating: "Our company has no business dealings with Ms. Huang." The company also said its business resources were obtained through compliant channels.

Huang's association with Megaspeed has also attracted scrutiny. According to Reuters, she became the controlling shareholder of the Singapore-based cloud computing company after previously holding senior positions at a Shanghai investment firm.

Reuters said it reviewed more than 30 publicly available financial records, corporate filings and company materials relating to Huang and her business interests.

Nvidia lists Megaspeed as an official cloud partner in its partner directory. The company came under public scrutiny in October 2025 after The New York Times reported that US authorities were investigating whether it was helping Chinese customers access advanced Nvidia chips restricted under American export controls.

Reuters subsequently reported that Megaspeed had attracted scrutiny over suspicions of helping Chinese companies obtain restricted processors. However, it said there was no public finding that the company had violated export-control rules.

Huang has also attracted attention because of her reported connections with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

In a separate report last month, The New York Times said US authorities had concluded that Alice Huang was a Chinese intelligence asset who had passed information to Beijing while developing a close relationship with the Nvidia chief executive.

Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the intelligence allegation. China has denied the claim, while Alice Huang could not be reached for comment.

The latest allegations concerning DeepSeek's investment and the reported Nvidia chip-supply commitment have added another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding Huang's business network.

The developments come at a sensitive time for the US semiconductor industry, as Washington seeks to restrict China's access to advanced computing hardware that could strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities. The reported arrangement also raises questions about how effectively export controls can prevent restricted processors from reaching Chinese AI companies through business networks operating across multiple countries.

Anjali Thakur is a Senior Assistant Editor with Mint, reporting on trending news, entertainment and health, with a focus on stories driving digital conversations. Her work involves spotting early signals across news cycles and social media, sharpening stories for SEO and Google Discover, and mentoring young editors in digital-first newsroom practices. She is known for turning fast-moving developments—whether news-driven or culture-led—into clear, tightly edited journalism without compromising editorial rigour.<br><br> Before joining Mint, she was Deputy News Editor at NDTV.com, where she led the Trending section and covered viral news, breaking developments and human-interest stories. She has also worked as Chief Sub-Editor at India.com (Zee Media) and as Senior Correspondent with Exchange4media and Hindustan Times’ HT City, reporting on media, advertising, entertainment, health, lifestyle and popular culture.<br><br> Anjali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miranda House, and is currently pursuing an MBA, strengthening her understanding of business strategy and digital media economics. Her writing balances newsroom discipline with a clear instinct for what resonates with readers.

Catch all the Business News , Corporate news , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

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