Iraq banned cryptocurrency mining and trading in 2017 to protect its fragile economy, but underground crypto activity continues. Learn why the ban exists, how people still mine, and what it means for Iraq's future.
Read MoreCrypto Mining Prohibition: Where It's Banned, Why, and What You Need to Know
When you hear crypto mining prohibition, a government ban on the process of validating blockchain transactions using computational power. Also known as cryptocurrency mining restrictions, it’s not just about energy—it’s about control, revenue, and national security. More than a dozen countries have moved to restrict or fully ban crypto mining, not because Bitcoin is dangerous, but because it’s hard to tax, regulate, or track.
Russia, a major player in global Bitcoin hash rate with strict power allocation rules doesn’t outright ban mining, but it shuts off electricity to miners in winter, demands heavy taxes, and blocks operations in sensitive regions. Meanwhile, China, once home to 70% of the world’s mining power shut down every mine in 2021, citing energy waste and financial risk. Even in the United States, a top mining hub with 44% of global hash rate, states like New York and Vermont have imposed moratoriums on proof-of-work mining over environmental concerns. These aren’t random decisions—they’re responses to grid stress, carbon targets, and lost tax revenue.
It’s not just about laws—it’s about power. Mining pools like Neopool, a leading Bitcoin mining pool known for high uptime and security now have to choose where to operate based on who controls the grid, not just who offers cheap electricity. Countries that allow mining, like Kazakhstan and the UAE, are doing it because they see it as a way to use surplus energy and attract tech investment. But where mining is prohibited, the message is clear: if you can’t control it, you’ll stop it.
So if you’re thinking about mining, ask yourself: are you chasing profits—or legal risk? The era of mining anywhere, anytime is over. Today, your location determines your legality, your power source, and your survival. The posts below break down exactly where mining is banned, how governments enforce it, what happens to miners who ignore the rules, and how the industry is adapting—or disappearing.