Venezuela Bans Crypto Mining to Address Energy Crisis and Corruption
Venezuela has announced a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency mining in an effort to stabilize its power grid and address systemic corruption. This decision follows the seizure of over 11,000 mining devices and the disconnection of numerous mining farms from the national grid, known as Sistema Eléctrico Nacional (SEN).
The move comes as part of a broader anti-corruption initiative and is aimed at reducing the strain on the national power supply, which has been inconsistent and plagued by blackouts for over a decade. The Ministry of Electric Power emphasizes that these measures are essential to ensure a stable and efficient electrical service across the country.
The crackdown on crypto mining is not unprecedented in Venezuela. In March 2023, the government temporarily halted all crypto mining operations as part of a corruption investigation involving the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). The investigation revealed that officials were allegedly running parallel operations, redirecting oil revenue through cryptocurrency channels. This ongoing initiative has led to the arrest of several high-ranking officials, including Joselit Ramírez, the former head of the National Superintendency of Cryptoassets (Sunacrip), and Tareck El Aissami, the former president of PDVSA.
In addition to addressing corruption, the ban on crypto mining is a response to the severe energy crisis that has gripped Venezuela. The country has experienced chronic power outages, with significant blackouts in 2019 that left many regions without electricity for extended periods. These outages have severely impacted daily life and economic activities, making it crucial for the government to regulate high-energy-consuming activities like crypto mining.
Cryptocurrency mining, particularly Bitcoin mining, requires substantial electricity to operate the vast arrays of computers that perform complex calculations. This high energy demand has been a point of contention globally, leading several countries, including China and Kazakhstan, to impose stringent regulations or outright bans on mining activities to protect their power grids. In Venezuela, the government’s decision to cut off crypto mining aligns with these global trends and underscores the need to prioritize the energy needs of the general population over commercial mining operations.
Rafael Lacava, the governor of Carabobo state, has been a vocal advocate for public collaboration in identifying and reporting illegal mining operations. He stressed the importance of community involvement in ensuring that the electricity supply is not diverted for unauthorized mining activities, which could exacerbate the power shortages faced by ordinary citizens.
The National Association of Cryptocurrencies confirmed the mining ban in a recent X post, highlighting the government’s commitment to stabilizing the power grid and ensuring a reliable supply of electricity. The association noted that the ban follows a recent operation in Maracay, where authorities confiscated 2,000 mining devices as part of the anti-corruption drive.
Despite the crackdown on mining, Venezuela continues to explore the use of cryptocurrencies for other purposes. The state-run oil company, PDVSA, has been reported to seek using digital assets like USDT (Tether) to facilitate crude oil and fuel exports, aiming to circumvent U.S. sanctions. This indicates that while mining is being curtailed, the strategic use of digital currencies remains part of Venezuela’s economic landscape.
The Venezuelan government’s actions also reflect a broader challenge faced by many nations grappling with the dual pressures of technological advancement and infrastructure limitations. Poor maintenance and underinvestment in the power grid have been cited by experts as key factors in Venezuela’s ongoing energy crisis. The government, however, attributes the instability to sabotage and external factors, and has pledged to modernize the power network to meet the country’s needs.
