IMG-LOGO

Police in Kosovo Seize Crypto Mining Rigs From Serbs

News Feed - 2023-04-17 06:04:34

Police in Kosovo Seize Crypto Mining Rigs From Serbs


Kosovo police have seized dozens of crypto mining devices from residents of a majority Serb region in the north of the country. Authorities in Pristina and Belgrade exchanged accusations over the move, which has the potential to raise tensions in the ethnically divided, partially recognized Balkan state. Kosovo Government Cracks Down on Crypto Mining in Mainly Serb North


Law enforcement in Kosovo has carried out raids against cryptocurrency mining in a northern municipality where Serbs form the majority of the population, the Turkish Anadolu Agency reported, quoting a member of the Albanian-led government in Pristina.


According to Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli, police have seized 174 devices designed to mint digital currencies. Announcing the operation in Zubin Potok on social media, she insisted that the failure to pay electricity bills encourages such illegal activities.


Consumers in the predominantly Serb northern part of Kosovo have not paid for electric power in over two decades. Serbia does not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of the territory, the rest of which is mostly inhabited by ethnic Albanians.


Belgrade says the crackdown is an attempt to provoke Serbs to escalate tensions in the breakaway region. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija under Serbia’s government highlighted that the raids were conducted on Good Friday, a holy day for Orthodox Christians, describing the police operation as a continuation of the harassment of the Serbian people.


Serbia is portraying the operation as one targeting Serbs, according to Blerim Vela, the cabinet chief of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani. “The Serbian government openly supports criminal activity in northern Kosovo and tries to present it as an attack on local Serbs,” he was quoted as stating.


Pristina halted the extraction of cryptocurrencies throughout Kosovo in January 2022, citing negative effects of the global energy crisis, and renewed the ban in August, seizing hundreds of crypto mining machines last year. It has been reported that the total of unpaid electricity and water bills in four Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo exceeds €300 million (almost $330 million). Tags in this story bills, confiscation, conflict, Crackdown, Crypto, crypto miners, crypto mining, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, Electricity, Energy, kosovo, Law Enforcement, mining, Mining Devices, mining machines, operation, Police, raids, Seizure, Serb, Serbia, Serbian, Tensions


What are your thoughts on the ongoing crackdown on crypto mining in Kosovo? Share them in the comments section below. Lubomir Tassev


Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens’s quote: “Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.” Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration. China Fines Bitmain $3.6 Million for Tax Violations, Report MINING | 4 days ago Cleanspark Purchases 45,000 Bitcoin Mining Devices, Adding 6.3 EH/s to Current Fleet MINING | 5 days ago


Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Nada B / Shutterstock.com Previous articleCBDC Debate Heats Up: BIS Project Sparks Controversy Among Critics; Lynette Zang Warns of Dangers of CBDCs Next articleGrowing Links Between Middle East, Russia, China Pose Huge Challenge for US, Warns Former Treasury Secretary Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Read disclaimerShow comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItSEC Risks Violating Admin Procedure Act by Rejecting Spot Bitcoin ETFs, Says Grayscale


Grayscale Investments" CEO explains that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could potentially violate the Administrative Procedure Act by not approving a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). SEC Approving Spot Bitcoin ETF Is "a Matter of When and Not ... read more.Goldman Predicts US Recession Odds at 35% in 2 Years, John Mauldin Wouldn"t Be Surprised if Stocks Fell 40% Digital Ruble ‘Much Needed,’ Russia’s Central Bank Says, Won’t Delay Testing Economist Predicts the Fed"s Response to Inflation Will Push Crypto Higher Microbt Reveals Latest Bitcoin Mining Rigs — Machines Produce up to 126 TH/s With Custom 5nm Chip Design