Super Micro Computer

In August 2024, Hindenburg Research published a report alleging Supermicro had returned to the same accounting manipulation practices that led to its previous SEC charges, including related-party transactions and sanctions evasion. Ernst & Young subsequently resigned as Supermicro's auditor in October 2024, citing concerns about governance and transparency. The DOJ opened an investigation. Supermicro faced potential NASDAQ delisting again before filing delayed reports.

The SEC charged Super Micro Computer and its former CFO and VP Controller with widespread accounting violations spanning from 2015 to 2017, including prematurely recognizing revenue, underreporting expenses, and circumventing internal controls. Supermicro paid a $17.5M penalty. The company was delisted from NASDAQ in 2018 and only relisted in 2020 after restating financials.

On October 4, 2018, Bloomberg Businessweek published 'The Big Hack' alleging Chinese intelligence operatives planted tiny surveillance chips on Supermicro server motherboards used by Apple, Amazon, and US government agencies. Apple, Amazon, the NSA, and DHS all publicly denied the claims. No physical evidence of the chips was ever presented. Supermicro's share price cratered following the report. A February 2021 Bloomberg follow-up still provided no physical proof. The incident remains one of the most controversial unverified claims in tech hardware history.