Global venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has reportedly led a US$400 million funding round for China-based blockchain hardware developer Bitmain Technologies. The company develops and sells bitcoin mining machines and has offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Qingdao, Chengdu, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Bitmain plans to use the new funding to prepare for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by the end of 2018.