Venezuelan BTC-Miner forced to stop operating in the middle of anti-corruption examinations (report)
Venezuelan BTC-Miner forced to stop operating in the middle of anti-corruption examinations (report)
reported that Venezuela's authorities have asked the local Bitcoin mining workers to temporarily hire the company while inspecting a large corruption program that could have drained up to $ 20 billion.
People who are part of President Maduro's inner cycle are suspected of having staged the crime in which the national oil and gas company-Petróleos de Venezuela-was involved.
Interruption of crypto activities during the examination
According to Forbes reporting, large BTC miners in Venezuela have to switch off their machines in Venezuela because of a suspected corruption case shocked by the nation. It is estimated that Petróleos de Venezuela- a state oil and natural gas company and the fifth largest exporter of hydrocarbons- are missing between $ 3 and $ 20 billion.
The investigators accused some of the leaders of the political movement of President Maduro (known as Chavismo).
The Superintendencia Nacional de Criptoactivos (Sunacrip) is the focus of the process, since after the US sanctions against the company, it played a role in processing sales. It was also one of the most important institutions that deal with all types of energy consumption and Bitcoin mining.
The authorities have also asked other cryptocurrency companies, including stock exchanges and payment platforms with Sunacrip licenses, to stop operating during the examination.
posts on social media platforms recently revealed that the national anti-corruption police began to inspect domestic Bitcoin mining companies in order to find connections between you and the corruption leaks in the energy sector. Law enforcement authorities have also checked whether miners have the required approval and current documentation in order to work in the country.
It is worth noting that many of these licenses from Joselit Ramírez (chairman of Sunacrip) and Rajiv Mosqueda (head of the digital mining operation at Sunacrip) were exhibited. Both men are in custody because they supposedly took part in a plan to steal Venezuela's energy matters.
It remains unknown when Venezuelan crypto units can resume operation and how long the examination will last. Some believe that President Maduro Sunacrip could restructure or to redesign a new regulatory authority from scratch.
Charge of the US Ministry of Justice
According to the US Ministry of Justice, cryptocurrencies may have also played a role in other illegal activities in Venezuela in recent years. Investigations into the home protection (HSI) claims in 2020 that many high-ranking Venezolan officials, including President Maduro, acted as the leader of the notorious "Cartels of Sonnen".
The criminal organization abused locals and corrupted domestic institutions to facilitate the import of large quantities to the USA, and used digital assets to cover the transactions, suggested the agency. Attorney General William Barr-one of the US officials who announced the indictment-announced further details: "Maduro and a number of high-ranking colleagues allegedly conspired with the FARC for more than 20 years, which caused tons of cocaine to the American communities and devastated.
Today's announcement focuses on exterminating comprehensive corruption within the Venezuelan government-a system that is constructed and controlled to enrich those at the highest levels of the government. The United States will not allow these corrupt Venezuelan officials to use the US banking system to move their illegal revenues from South America or to drive their criminal machinations. ”
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