Kuwait takes decisive action against crypto mining to save power
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Internal Affairs has banned cryptocurrency mining within the country's territory due to concerns that this energy-intensive process could threaten the stability of the electricity supply. A large-scale operation is currently targeting homes used for cryptocurrency mining.
Cryptocurrency mining - a computing process requiring advanced equipment and significant energy inputs - "constitute an unlawful exploitation of electrical power ... and may cause outages affecting residential, commercial and service areas, posing a direct threat to public safety," stated the ministry in a special communiqué.
Kuwait has banned cryptocurrency mining
The actions of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Internal Affairs primarily focused on the southernmost part of the country, where the Ministry of Energy had previously identified approximately 100 homes involved in cryptocurrency mining. In some buildings, electricity consumption was reported to be up to 20 times higher than average. According to data from the ministry, after the initial operation by the authorities, energy consumption in the southern part of Kuwait decreased by 55%.
In this country, located on the Persian Gulf, there is a ban on cryptocurrency trading, but until now there were no restrictions on their mining. In recent years, the authorities have been grappling with an energy crisis, caused by factors such as urban expansion due to a population increase, rising temperatures, and neglect in the national energy system.
The Kuwaiti authorities repeatedly urge the country's residents to conserve energy to ensure there is enough for cooling during the summer months.
