Tajikistan Sets Prison Terms for Crypto Mining Powered by Stolen Electricity

Highlights:

• Tajikistan sets tough penalties for illegal electricity use as authorities link hidden mining farms to regional outages.
• Officials have reported rising power theft during winter by unregistered mining farms.
• The new law will strengthen oversight of crypto mining activity and support efforts to prevent tax evasion.

Tajikistan’s parliament approved new criminal penalties that target people who use stolen electricity to produce virtual assets. Lawmakers adopted Article 253(2) after several reports linked illegal mining operations to ongoing power shortages in key regions. The measure introduces fines that range from $1,650 to $8,250. The law also sets prison terms of two to five years for serious violations. Offenders who engage in large-scale electricity theft face sentences of five to eight years.

🔥 Tajikistan Imposes Tough Penalties on Illegal #Crypto #Mining#Crypto_Mining #Tajikistan_News

— CryptOpus (@ImCryptOpus) December 10, 2025

Attorney General Khabibullo Vokhidzoda presented the bill during a session on December 3 and described the impact of illegal mining operations on the national grid. He said these activities damage the state and disrupt electricity supplies in several regions because many operators try to bypass meters or draw power through hidden lines. He added that mining operations caused financial losses of 32 million somoni. Lawmakers backed the measure after they reviewed reports that described widespread electricity misuse.

Authorities opened several investigations into operations that connected high-powered machines to the national grid without proper approval. Officials also said that some people imported mining equipment without meeting legal requirements. Investigators linked several illegal farms to repeated outages in cities that already face heavy pressure during the winter months. These findings supported the decision to strengthen penalties for offenders.

Officials Report Widespread Electricity Theft as Winter Shortages Increase Pressure

Tajikistan enters each winter with limited electricity because hydropower reservoirs drop to low levels during cold months. The country sources nearly all of its power from hydropower stations, and reduced river flows increase pressure on the grid. Officials said that illegal crypto mining operations now worsen these shortages and push the system closer to rationing.

Local reports show rising cases of electricity theft across homes, workshops, and commercial areas. Authorities pursued 190 criminal cases that involved 3,988 suspects in recent months. These cases often link to farms that run thousands of ASIC devices at the same time. Each device can use several kilowatt-hours each day, and large groups can place heavy strain on the national grid. This burden grows as temperatures drop across the country.

Many miners moved to Central Asia after China banned the sector in 2021. Operators from other regions also arrived because Tajikistan offered low energy costs and limited oversight at the time. However, officials said this movement created new risks for the national power system because many operators tried to avoid proper procedures. They pointed to widespread equipment smuggling and frequent attempts to operate without registration. These activities increased pressure on the state energy company and added new challenges during peak demand.

Lawmakers said ongoing energy shortages complicate efforts to stabilize the power network. Tajikistan’s state energy company carries heavy debt, and the delayed Rogun hydropower project has consumed major financial resources. Legislators said illegal crypto mining operations slow progress toward a more stable grid. For instance, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) reported losses above $1 billion due to unlawful electricity use linked to cryptocurrency mining in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy said national utility TNB has lost over $1.1 billion from electricity theft by crypto miners between 2020 and August 2025, with 13,827 sites found illegally modifying or bypassing meters to power mining operations. https://t.co/MrbAWpHBZD

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) November 19, 2025

New Law Targets Tax Violations of Crypto Mining Activities

MP Shukhrat Ganizoda stated that the new law is meant to decrease tax evasion associated with crypto mining. He further added that some operators conceal revenue or evade commodity tracking systems. Ganizoda noted that the changes will empower enforcement agencies and safeguard community property. The bill will take effect once signed by President Emomali Rahmon and published in the official government gazette.