The government introduces severe penalties to combat electricity theft linked to mining as the country faces an energy crisis.
Tajikistan has decided to adopt drastic measures against those who mine bitcoin using electricity illegally siphoned from the national grid. The new legislative provisions introduce heavy fines and prison sentences of up to eight years, at a time when the Central Asian country is grappling with severe energy shortages during the winter months.
Tajikistan’s bicameral parliament has recently approved legislative amendments introducing criminal and financial penalties for the unauthorized use of electricity to produce digital assets. According to reports by Asia-Plus, a specific article has been added to the country’s Criminal Code targeting the “illegal use of electricity for the production of virtual assets.”
Under the new rules, individuals caught powering mining equipment in violation of the law face fines ranging from 15,000 to 37,000 somoni (approximately $1,600–$4,000). In the case of organized groups, members may be fined up to 75,000 somoni (just over $8,000) and face prison sentences of two to five years.
For cases involving electricity theft on a “particularly large scale” for mining purposes, authorities have established even harsher penalties, with prison terms ranging from five to eight years.
Presenting the proposal to parliament, Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General, Habibullo Vohidzoda, stressed that energy theft through mining farms has caused shortages in several cities and regions across the country. The phenomenon has forced authorities to impose restrictions on electricity supplies and has “created favorable conditions for the commission of various crimes,” the official said.
Vohidzoda also warned that “the illegal circulation of virtual assets facilitates a number of crimes, such as electricity theft, material damage to the state, money laundering, and other offenses.” He referred to numerous cases of mining farms discovered illegally connected to the power grid nationwide, noting that several investigations have already been launched.
According to official estimates, illicit mining operations in Tajikistan have caused financial losses to the state of around 32 million somoni (approximately $3.5 million). Vohidzoda added that some of the individuals involved imported equipment from abroad, also in violation of national legislation.
As highlighted by Tajik lawmaker Shukhrat Ganizoda, the adopted amendments also aim to prevent tax evasion by those engaged in digital asset mining. The changes will enter into force once the approved bill is signed by President Emomali Rahmon and published in Tajikistan’s official gazette.
