Overview
- In Tehran Province, authorities dismantled 104 unlicensed farms and seized about 1,465 machines in recent operations.
- Iran’s state utility Tavanir offers a 1 million toman (about $24) reward for tips that lead to illegal mining equipment.
- Energy officials estimate underground mining consumes 1,400–2,000 megawatts and contributes 15–20% of power shortfalls.
- Inspectors report rigs hidden in factories, warehouses and tunnels, with some using forged industrial meters and relocating quickly after raids.
- Iran legalized mining in 2019 under strict rules requiring licensed sales to the Central Bank, yet the country still accounts for roughly 4.2% of Bitcoin’s global hashrate.