The US is reviewing Benchmark’s investment into Chinese AI startup Manus 

Manus AI is one of the most popular AI-agent startups and recently raises $ 75 million in a rating of half a billion dollars in a round led by benchmark.

But two public sources told Semafor That the investment is now being assessed by the American Treasury Department due to its compliance with 2023 restrictions on investments in Chinese companies.

Benchmark’s lawyers have cleared the investment because Manus does not technically develop his own AI models, but instead a “wrapper” is around existing, Semafor reported.

Those lawyers also concluded that Manus was not established in China, because it was included on the Kayman Islands. (That is a common structure used by Chinese companies, Such as alibabaTo access foreign capital.)

Benchmark has criticized his manus investments from Founders Fund partner Delian Asparouhov, who posted on X “Wow, actions have consequences?”.

Benchmark, Manus and Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comments.