9,404 Crypto Mining Devices Seized by Iranian Authorities Since March

Iranian authorities have seized nearly 10,000 illegal cryptocurrency mining devices since March. According to reports, many of the seized crypto mining rigs were operating in public locations that receive free or heavily-subsidized electricity, such as schools and mosques. Iran Confiscates Nearly 10K Crypto Mining Devices Kambiz Nazerian, head of Tehran Electricity Distribution Company, said Monday … Read more

Leading Japanese Online Broker SBI to Pull Out of Russia’s Crypto Mining Sector

SBI Holdings, the largest online brokerage in Japan, is shutting down its crypto mining business in the Russian Federation. Amid mounting uncertainty over the future of such investments due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as decreased mining profits, the financial firm said it plans to sell its equipment and withdraw. Japan’s SBI … Read more

Sweden Needs Power for More Useful Things Than Bitcoin Mining, Energy Minister Says

Concerned about projected increase in electricity demand, the government in Sweden may turn its back on crypto mining, the country’s energy minister has indicated. Swedish bitcoin minting industry, a leader in Europe, is likely to soon lose the preferential treatment it has been taking advantage of for some time, a media report revealed. Crypto Miners … Read more

Iranian Power Utility Tavanir Vows Severe Measures Against Unlicensed Crypto Miners

Iran’s state-owned power distribution company, Tavanir, has threatened harsher measures to discourage unauthorized crypto mining. These include much higher fines for those minting digital currencies with subsidized electricity and penalties for government officials involved in mining. Tavanir Raises Fines for Illegal Cryptocurrency Mining The Iran Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Company (Tavanir) has adopted new, … Read more

SEC Fines Nvidia $5.5 Million for Failing to Disclose Crypto Mining Significantly Boosted Its Revenue

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Nvidia Corp. for failing to disclose that crypto mining significantly boosted its revenue. The company agreed to a cease-and-desist order and to pay a $5.5 million penalty. Nvidia Failed to Disclose That Crypto Mining Was a Significant Element of Its Material Revenue Growth The U.S. Securities … Read more

US Lawmakers Call for More Oversight of Cryptocurrency’s Environmental Impacts

Twenty-three U.S. lawmakers have called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase oversight of cryptocurrency’s environmental impacts. “We request that the EPA evaluate ‘Proof-of-Work’ mining facilities’ compliance with environmental statutes,” they said. Lawmakers Want More Oversight of Bitcoin Mining Industry U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) and 22 other Congress members jointly sent a … Read more

Iran to Increase Penalties for Unauthorized Cryptocurrency Mining

Iran has drafted new rules to increase penalties for illegal cryptocurrency mining in the country, including additional fines and imprisonment. “Any use of subsidized electricity intended for households, industrial, agricultural, and commercial subscribers for mining cryptocurrency is prohibited.” New Penalties for Illegal Cryptocurrency Mining in Iran An official with Iran’s Power Generation, Distribution, and Transmission … Read more

Russian Finance Ministry Amends Bill ‘On Digital Currency,’ Adds Crypto Mining Provisions

The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation has revised a draft law designed to regulate the country’s crypto space, introducing provisions for cryptocurrency mining. The bill has been resubmitted to the government and may be adopted during the parliament’s spring session. Updated Law ‘On Digital Currency’ Filed With Russian Government Russia’s Ministry of Finance … Read more

US Lawmakers Press Bitcoin Mining Firms on Energy Usage, Carbon Emissions, Climate Crisis

Eight U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have sent letters to top U.S.-based bitcoin mining firms questioning them about their crypto mining operations. “The extraordinarily high energy usage and carbon emissions associated with bitcoin mining could undermine our hard work to tackle the climate crisis — not to mention the harmful impacts cryptomining has on … Read more