Paraguay Gov’t Looks to Jail Illegal Bitcoin Miners for ‘Up to 10 Years
The government of Paraguay will ask lawmakers to approve a bill that proposes jailing illegal Bitcoin (BTC) miners for up to 10 years.
The presidential spokesperson Paula Carro told reporters on Friday May 17 that the government has sent the bill to parliament “as a matter of urgency.”
10 Years in Jail: Illegal Bitcoin Miners Face Longer Prison Terms
Carro said that the bill seeks to “punish” illegal miners with “multiple years in prison.”
The draft law will also allow Paraguayan police and prosecutors to seize mining equipment from illegal operators.
Per Criptonoticias, Carro also said the bill “seeks to protect the state-owned National Electricity Administration (ANDE).”
She added that the “theft of large amounts of energy by illegal Bitcoin mining operators” was posing a “threat” to ANDE.
The terms of the bill allow courts to impose “a maximum sentence” of a decade in jail “for the crime of energy theft.”
The proposals also allow ANDE to ask police to seize mining rigs and sell these off, with the state-run firm to be “the beneficiary of the proceeds
Bitcoin mining has boomed in Paraguay, where lawmakers have fought to bring it into the legal sphere.
The country has considerable power resources that BTC miners find ideal – namely surplus hydroelectric energy.
However, in recent years, many Paraguay-based miners have sought to create illegal connections to grids.
And power providers have complained they are facing overloads and other issues.
Police have responded by launching a crackdown. Since the beginning of this year, officers have seized more than 5,000 ASIC miners.
