The illegal use of electricity cryptocurrency for mining caused the energy of Tajikistan the damage to 32 million somoni (about $ 3.4 million) in the first six months of the year, said the Prosecutor General of the country of Khabibullo Vokhidzoda.

According to the prosecutor general, several criminal cases have been instituted on the fact of installing and using equipment for mining. Investigative actions are ongoing.

“There are persons who import equipment for mining farms from abroad and illegally mines cryptocurrency,” said Vojidzoda.

According to him, 3988 people were brought to administrative and disciplinary responsibility for the theft of electricity in January – June. 38.7 million somoni (about $ 4 million) of damage from theft of electricity – not only related to mining were returned to the state budget.

In Tajikistan, the extraction of digital assets is not regulated by law. At the same time, according to the Criminal Code of the country, for violation of the rules for using electricity and evasion of payment for light, a fine of 27,000 to 90,000 somoni or imprisonment for a term of three to ten years is provided.

Earlier in the Russian Republic of Ingushetia, illegal mining farms in the first six months of the year stole electricity for almost 350 million rubles, the Interregional Distribution Network Company Rosseti North Caucasus said.