Billion-dollar Bitcoin mining industry resumes in Iran after three-month ban

The Iranian government will allow licensed cryptocurrency miners to resume operations today following a three-month ban imposed by former President Hassan Rouhani on May 26, 2021.

The initial ban was put into effect due to concerns over the stability of the country’s unreliable power grid.

The Middle Eastern country experienced widespread power outages in the summer, which former President Rouhani attributed to extreme heat. On some days, the heat topped 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or nearly 49 degrees Celsius.

Middle East and Central Asia are under the harshest heat wave in history for this time of the year. In #Iran 51.0C at Omidieh,50.1C at Abadan,45.5C at Bam (920m asl). In Turkmenistan 46.7C Uchadzhi,in Uzbekistan 44.7C at Termez,in Tajikistan 43.7C at Isambaj (563m). pic.twitter.com/AQ5bpt93vM

— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) June 5, 2021

In light of the power outages and a water shortage, Rouhani decided to ban crypto mining during the heat to ensure citizens could keep their air conditioners running — although doubts have been expressed in some quarters about how much power crypto mining actually consumes in the country. With the heat dying down and Ebrahim Raisi taking office as president on Aug. 3, 2021, the crypto mining ban has been lifted.

An estimated 4.5% to 7% of the world’s cryptocurrency mining is done in Iran. It may come as little surprise that Iran boasts some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world thanks to abundant fossil fuel resources such as natural gas.

There are some reports that suggest the country looks favorably on Bitcoin (BTC) mining as a way to evade sanctions from the United States. Iran currently suffers from a near-complete embargo by the U.S., negatively affecting the nation’s economy. At current estimated levels of mining in Iran, revenues are estimated by Elliptic via Reuters to be around $1 billion.

Despite the ban, underground mining reportedly continued, and on Wednesday, news broke that Ali Sahraee, the director of Teheran’s Stock Exchange (TSE), had resigned after the state-run media reported that cryptocurrency mining was taking place at the exchange during the ban.

TSE leadership first denied the existence of the mining operation, but later, executive deputy director Beheshti-Sarsht admitted that the TSE should be held accountable for the operation.