Tajikistan Imposes Criminal Penalties for Crypto Miners Using Stolen Power
The Tajikistan parliament has permitted revisions to the Criminal Code, introducing Article 253(2), which imposes penalties on miners minting crypto utilizing stolen electrical energy.
The article stipulates a high-quality of $1,650 to $8,250 for violators or imprisonment from two to 5 years. However, for the unlawful use of energy for crypto mining on an “particularly massive scale,” the jail time period is from 5 to eight years, per a local media report.
On December 3, members of the Tajik parliament reviewed and adopted the amendments to the Criminal Code, introduced by Attorney General Khabibullo Vokhidzoda.
Counsel Vokhidzoda additionally warned that electrical energy theft by crypto miners in a number of cities has already contributed to regional energy outages.
“The unlawful circulation of digital property facilitates a lot of crimes, such because the theft of electrical energy, materials harm to the state, cash laundering, and different offences,” Vokhidzoda stated.
He beforehand flagged damages from unlawful mining operations, inflicting 32 million somoni (practically $3.52 million), which led to 4 to 5 felony instances, in response to The Diplomat.
Tajikistan Reports Winter Power Shortages
The Central Asian nation, which sources nearly 95% of its electricity from hydropower, is grappling with winter energy pressures with low reservoir and river flows.
Besides, following China’s crypto mining ban in 2021, many operators, together with these from Russia, moved to Central Asia, attracted by low power prices and relaxed regulation.
As of August 2025, Tajikistan has been pursuing 190 felony instances associated to the unlawful use of electrical energy. Further, the Diplomat report added that these instances concerned 3,988 people who allegedly triggered damages value $4.26 million.
MP Shukhrat Ganizoda emphasised that miners join 1000’s of ASIC crypto mining units to Tajikistan’s energy grid.
“Those committing such crimes search to make use of electrical energy with out meters or by different unlawful means to supply such property,” he defined.
Criminal Code Amendments Prevent Crypto Tax Violations
According to Shukhrat Ganizoda, the brand new laws goals to forestall tax evasion schemes and unauthorized digital encryption.
Additionally, the revisions may also deter makes an attempt to bypass commodity monitoring techniques. The invoice will likely be efficient after President Emomali Rahmon indicators it into legislation.
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