according to materials from the site - By Cryptopolitan_News
The authorities of Tajikistan are ready to introduce new harsh penalties for miners who extract cryptocurrency using electricity that they have not paid for.
Measures aimed at curbing electricity theft in this sector include hefty fines and imprisonment, as the country faces another cold winter due to a shortage of electricity.
Tajikistan will combat illegal mining with fines and imprisonment
The government of Tajikistan introduces criminal penalties and financial sanctions for unauthorized consumption of electricity for the production of digital coins.
This is reported by local media, according to amendments to the legislation recently approved by the bicameral legislature of this Central Asian country.
As reported by the Asia-Plus portal on Tuesday, an article has been added to the country's Criminal Code providing for criminal liability for 'illegal use of electricity for the production of virtual assets.'
According to its provisions, individuals illegally using mining equipment are subject to a fine ranging from 15,000 to 37,000 somoni (approximately from 1,600 to 4,000 US dollars).
In the case of forming an organized group, its participants will be fined up to 75,000 somoni (just over 8,000 US dollars). They also face imprisonment for a term of two to five years.
The theft of electricity in 'especially large amounts' for the same purpose will be punished with longer terms — from five to eight years of imprisonment, the publication specifies.
Presenting the bill in parliament, the Attorney General of Tajikistan Habibullo Vohidzoda noted that the theft of electricity through crypto farms has led to shortages in a number of cities and districts.
This phenomenon prompted authorities to impose restrictions on electricity supply and 'created conditions conducive to the commission of various crimes,' explained the official. He also stated:
'The illegal circulation of virtual assets contributes to the commission of a number of crimes, such as theft of electricity, causing material damage to the state, money laundering, and other offenses.'
Vohidzoda pointed out numerous cases of illegal connections of crypto farms to the power grid on the territory of the former Soviet republic, noting that several investigations have already been initiated.
The prosecutor stated that the illegal operation of energy-intensive equipment for mining in Tajikistan causes financial damage to the state amounting to 32 million somoni (about 3.5 million US dollars).
He also noted that some of the individuals involved imported equipment for minting coins from abroad, which is also a violation of national legislation.
The adopted amendments are also aimed at preventing tax evasion by individuals engaged in cryptocurrency mining, noted Tajikistan's Legislative Assembly deputy Shukhrat Ganizoda.
Changes will take effect after the signing of the bill by President Emomali Rahmon and publication in the official newspaper of Tajikistan.
Miners are accused of a lack of electricity in the region
Central Asian countries and the former USSR attracted bitcoin miners after Beijing's decision to impose a ban on cryptocurrency mining several years ago.
Among them is the regional economic giant, Kazakhstan, and Russia, bordering it to the north. In both countries, cryptocurrency miners are accused of a lack of electricity.
Kazakhstan solved this problem by introducing strict regulations and raising electricity tariffs for mining enterprises. Recently, the country lifted some restrictions for this sector.
The Russian Federation, which only recently legalized cryptocurrency mining by adopting a special law in 2024, is still trying to contain this problem.
Since the beginning of the year, Moscow has completely banned or restricted mining in more than 10 regions with a high concentration of crypto farms. Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that the Russian government intends to introduce criminal liability for illegal mining, as reported by Cryptopolitan.
Last month, Tajikistan's northern neighbor, Kyrgyzstan, closed all functioning crypto-mining enterprises on its territory, citing a growing shortage of electricity in the cold winter months.
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