Mining
Iran Offers Bounty for Reporting Illegal Crypto Mining Amid Power Shortages
Friday. August 16 at 2:00 AM
1 min. readIran is reportedly offering a reward of $20 to individuals who report unauthorized cryptocurrency mining activities as the country grapples with power shortages during a severe heatwave. The CEO of Iran's state-run electricity company, Tavanir, blames crypto miners for exacerbating the strain on the grid. He stated that 1 million toman (approximately $24) will be given to those who report each unauthorized mining equipment. The unauthorized mining has caused a significant increase in electricity consumption, leading to disruptions in the power grid. Around 230,000 illegal mining rigs, consuming up to 900 megawatts of power, have been found. Iranian authorities frequently uncover illegal mining operations, often located in schools and mosques that benefit from free or subsidized electricity. This crackdown on illegal mining comes amidst global concerns over the energy-intensive nature of crypto mining, with countries like Venezuela also taking measures to protect their power grids.