Iran Seizes 3,000 Crypto Mining Devices in a Week

Authorities in Iran have confiscated 3,000 units of mining hardware in just one week as part of a push to curb illegal crypto mining amid power shortages and blackouts. In a single year, Iranian law enforcement has shut down over 180 crypto farms in Tehran Province alone.

Over 500 Crypto Mining Rigs Confiscated in Tehran

As the government’s offensive against unauthorized crypto mining intensifies, authorities have discovered and seized more than 3,000 pieces of mining equipment, Iran’s power utility announced Wednesday. Over 500 devices have been confiscated in Tehran Province, where law enforcement officials have already shut down 183 illegal crypto farms with 11,000 mining units in the past fiscal year.

Another 600 mining rigs have been found in Kerman Province, said the Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (Tavanir) quoted by the Financial Tribune. According to the Iranian business daily, illegal mining farms have been located also in the provinces of Khuzestan, Mazandaran, Qom, and Bushehr.

The seizures of mining hardware come after Tavanir’s warning last week to unlicensed miners that its patience was running out. The state-owned company called on citizens who mint digital coins in their homes to switch off the mining equipment. The power utility emphasized that those who fail to comply will be cut off from the grid when identified and their mining rigs will be confiscated.