Iran has shut down nearly 7,000 illegalcrypto mining operations since the crackdown began in 2020.- The country is currently mulling over increasing the fine and adding jail time to the penalties for illegal
crypto mining operators. - Iran was among the first countries in the world to legalise crypto mining back in 2019.
According to an Iranian news publication, these crypto farms burnt through around 645 megawatts of power while conducting their operations without permission. The authorities peg that this amount equals the annual consumption of three regions within the country — North Khorasan, South Khorasan, and Chaharmal-Bakhtiari.
The Middle-East nation was among the first countries in the world to approve crypto mining as an industrial activity back in 2019. Since then, the country has established a licensing regime that requires crypto miners to have a licence, identify themselves, pay a higher tariff on energy consumption and sell their mined Bitcoin to the government.
As a result, many crypto miners in Iran have chosen to conduct their mining activity illegally in order to take advantage of subsidised electricity rates.
In September, the authorities reportedly confiscated over 220,000 mining hardware and shut down nearly 6,000 farms. Six months down the line, another 900 have been added to the list.
With the number of illegal crypto mining operations still on the rise, the apex power generation authority in Iran is currently mulling over increasing the penalties for unauthorised crypto mining operations.
As things stand, miners have to pay a fine and compensate for the damages they cause to the electricity network. Under the new regulations, not only will the monetary fine be higher, but could also include jail time.
As Iran tries to solve for its crypto mining conundrum at home, the
The sanctions have led to massive inflation and food prices rising by over 300%. The AP news agency reported that inflation in Iran has soared to 40%— the highest level since 1994. Smuggling of Iran’s highly subsidised bread into neighbouring countries of Iraq and Afghanistan has also spiked as hunger spreads across the region.
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