Hundreds of thousands of illegal mining devices have been discovered in Iran.
Date: 2025-11-04 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
Approximately 400,000 ASIC miners operating without a license have been identified in Iran. Of the 427,000 registered devices, more than 95% are operating illegally, according to local media. The main reason for this situation remains subsidized electricity rates, which make cryptocurrency mining extremely profitable.
According to Akbar Hassan Beklou, head of the Tehran Provincial Electricity Distribution Company, Iran has become a "safe haven for illegal miners." He noted that these units consume over 1,400 MW of power 24/7, threatening the stability of the country's entire power grid.
The official explained that many farms disguise their operations as industrial enterprises to gain access to preferential rates. Such facilities are often connected to grids designed for factories and plants, concealing the true purpose of their equipment.
The government has stepped up enforcement of illegal operations. In Tehran Province alone, 104 mining farms were recently dismantled and 1,465 units confiscated. According to Beklu, this equipment consumed as much energy as 10,000 households.
During inspections, inspectors found farms in the most unexpected places—from underground tunnels to production facilities. Many of them used government-subsidized connections, which significantly reduced the cost of mining. To combat such violations, authorities have created special teams working in conjunction with the police and energy services.
Furthermore, authorities are seeking to toughen penalties for owners of illegal farms to reduce economic losses and prevent grid overload. It is noted that illegal mining not only leads to power outages but also increases infrastructure maintenance costs.
According to local analysts, the volume of cryptocurrency transactions in Iran decreased by 11% between January and July of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Experts attribute this to increased government oversight and restrictions on unlicensed miners.
Thus, despite the high interest in cryptocurrencies, Iranian authorities continue to actively combat illegal mining, which they believe undermines the country's energy security.
