Abkhazia Expands Internet Restrictions for Cryptocurrency Miners – Mining Bitcoin News

The government in Abkhazia has extended an order banning access to websites used by cryptocurrency miners. The measure is part of a broader ban on activities related to digital coin mining that also restricts electricity consumption and imports of mining equipment in the breakaway Georgian republic.

Authorities in Abkhazia confirm ban on websites needed by local miners

Abkhazia's telecommunications and media watchdog has expanded internet restrictions on crypto mining operations in the country. According to an order from the State Committee for Communications, Mass Media and Digital Development, access to certain websites used by miners will remain prohibited until March 31, 2022. The original ban, passed at the end of December, expired on June 1st of this year.

According to the document issued on October 6, Internet providers are required to take the technical measures necessary to block the websites that allow miners to conduct their coin minting activities, Forklog reported, citing the Order. However, the government agency has not listed the domain names of the sites that will be restricted.

Speaking to Sputnik Radio, the chairman of the committee, Beslan Khalvash, noted that the new regulation he signed also applies to VPN services. He explained that the regulator previously cracked down on domains and IP addresses, but some users have switched to VPNs. These platforms will continue to be targeted in the future. The official declined to comment in detail on how the ban was circumvented, but insisted:

In the fight against mining, we are reaching a completely different level.

Khalvash emphasized that Internet providers in Abkhazia are now technically ready to restrict access to both Internet sites and VPNs. The companies have already purchased the necessary equipment and software. The head of the watchdog assured: “I think that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow we will start closing these VPNs.”

Abkhazia, a partially recognized de facto state in the South Caucasus, introduced a temporary ban on mining activities in 2018 and expanded it this spring until March 31, 2022. But officials in Sukhumi have recently realized that their efforts to enforce the restrictions across the region have been largely unsuccessful.

Despite poignant 6,000 mining devices, authorities have failed to disrupt crypto mining, which has proven to be an alternative source of income for many in the country. In September, the government in Sukhumi admitted that 30,000 mining rigs remained in the hands of miners, blamed for the region's worsening power shortage.

Still, Beslan Khalvash insisted that internet restrictions imposed last year have allowed Abkhazia to save a lot of electrical energy. "The decision was justified. I'm sure that extending this order and closing VPNs will also have some impact... I think this order also provides an opportunity to save electricity," he said.

Of course, that's not entirely certain. Khalvash himself admitted that there are large cryptocurrency farms in Abkhazia that can afford to do without the services of local Internet providers. “You can take the Internet from the satellite,” he admitted.

Earlier this year, reports revealed that Abkhazia Have conversations with its main donor, Russia, to solve its electricity deficit problem. Economy Minister Christina Özgan said that the authorities plan to organize additional deliveries from the Russian Federation. She added that they even want to build facilities where miners can install their equipment and legally connect it to the grid.

Do you think authorities in Abkhazia will be able to curb crypto mining? Tell us in the comments section below.

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