Nvidia H200 China Upfront Payment: Offloading Geopolitical Risk

Cash is king, especially when the chips are down. Nvidia is playing hardball with its most lucrative but volatile market, demanding full upfront payments for its latest AI powerhouse.

Strict Nvidia H200 China Payment Terms

According to Reuters, Nvidia is now requiring Chinese customers to pay in full upfront for its H200 AI chips. The new policy leaves no room for refunds or order modifications, a significant shift from previous terms that allowed for partial deposits. While some clients can use commercial insurance or collateral, the overall environment has become significantly stricter.

The chipmaker is treading carefully as regulatory approval from both Washington and Beijing remains a moving target. Memories of the Trump administration's export curbs on H20 chips, which forced a $5.5 billion inventory write-down, are still fresh. Nvidia is determined not to repeat that costly setback.

High Stakes and Surging Demand

Despite the financial hurdles, demand for the H200 remains astronomical. Reports from Bloomberg suggest that Chinese firms have placed orders for over 2 million GPUs for 2026. This surge has prompted Nvidia to ramp up production while simultaneously managing the tightrope of international relations.