Minister of Energy Orders Immediate Drafting of Bill to Criminalize Illegal Cryptocurrency Mining

Iran's Minister of Energy has issued a directive to form a specialized committee tasked with drafting legislation to criminalize illegal cryptocurrency mining.

Abbas Aliabadi, in a letter addressed to Homayoun Haeri, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy, called for the immediate establishment of this committee. The purpose of the initiative is to convene consultations with experts and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive bill aimed at combating unauthorized cryptocurrency mining.

The letter emphasizes that the committee should include university professors, legal scholars, representatives from the judiciary, Parliament, and law enforcement authorities. This diverse composition is intended to ensure that all legal, technical, and operational aspects of the issue are thoroughly examined.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the minister noted that illegal cryptocurrency mining places a significant strain on the power grid, disrupts energy consumption balances, and damages critical infrastructure. He stressed that drafting an inclusive bill would provide the legal framework necessary for effectively addressing violations.

The letter also pointed out that despite numerous unauthorized mining facilities being uncovered by Tavanir (Iran’s Power Generation, Distribution, and Transmission Company) over the past year, the lack of deterrent laws has allowed this issue to persist. Therefore, any penalties and measures proposed in the bill must be designed to deter future exploitation of the country’s electricity network.