Over 600 Crypto Mining Devices Seized in Abkhazia Since Start of 2024

SUKHUM / AQW'A ― Since the start of the year, Abkhazian authorities has seized more than 600 cryptocurrency mining devices, a response to the region's aging infrastructure that struggles under heavy energy demands.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, as stated by Minister Robert Kiut on national television, has confiscated 649 devices in 2024 alone.

This follows a broader sweep in 2023, where 3,284 devices were seized after inspections at 1,141 addresses

Kiut emphasised that preventing the influx of new mining equipment remains a key objective for the authorities. Law enforcement also tracks down and reports the locations of crypto farms to the Standards Agency, securing the equipment in storage.

These inventories are regularly updated and reported to both the Prime Minister and President, ensuring stringent oversight and regulatory compliance.

Abkhazia is grappling with frequent power grid failures and consequent rolling blackouts, with one of the reasons being illegally connected cryptocurrency mining equipment. In response, the Abkhazian Parliament passed legislation in March 2022, establishing both administrative and criminal penalties for those involved in unauthorised mining activities. These laws aim to curb the illegal use of energy resources and stabilize the national power supply.