Venezuela Cracks Down on Cryptocurrency Mining to Address Energy Crisis

委内瑞拉打击加密货币开采以应对能源危机

Venezuela has taken decisive action by shutting down cryptocurrency mining operations nationwide, according to recent reports. The Ministry of Electric Power asserts that this drastic measure is necessary to curb excessive electricity consumption and ensure consistent power supply for all citizens.

据最近的报道，委内瑞拉已采取果断行动，关闭了全国范围内的加密货币挖矿业务。电力部表示，这一严厉措施对于遏制过度用电、确保全体公民持续供电是必要的。

Immediate Disconnection of Mining Farms

矿场立即断网

On Friday, the Venezuelan Ministry of Electrical Energy (MPPPE) initiated a rigorous control plan targeting high-energy-consuming users, particularly crypto miners.

周五，委内瑞拉电力部（MPPPE）针对高能耗用户，特别是加密货币矿工启动了严格的控制计划。

In an Instagram post, the MPPPE declared, "We are cutting off all cryptocurrency mining farms from the national electrical system."

MPPPE 在 Instagram 帖子中宣布，“我们正在切断所有加密货币矿场与国家电力系统的连接。”

The objective is to reduce the surge in demand and maintain reliable and efficient service across Venezuela. This announcement follows the seizure of over 2,000 crypto mining units in Maracay, signaling a determined crackdown.

目标是减少需求激增并维持整个委内瑞拉可靠和高效的服务。这一宣布是在马拉凯扣押了 2000 多个加密货币挖矿单位之后发布的，这标志着坚决的打击行动。

Government's Actions Amid Energy Crisis

能源危机中政府的行动

Venezuela's electricity struggles are not new. The country has faced power shortages since 2009, reaching a critical low in 2019 with widespread blackouts. These outages have disrupted daily life and economic activities, often leaving cities without power for days.

委内瑞拉的电力斗争并不新鲜。该国自 2009 年以来一直面临电力短缺，并在 2019 年达到严重低点，并出现大面积停电。这些停电扰乱了日常生活和经济活动，常常导致城市数日断电。

The government attributes some of the blame to sabotage but also acknowledges the need for urgent system upgrades. Amid these challenges, Rafael Lacava, governor of Carabobo, urged citizens to report illegal mining activities.

政府将部分责任归咎于破坏行为，但也承认需要紧急进行系统升级。面对这些挑战，卡拉沃沃州长拉斐尔·拉卡瓦敦促公民举报非法采矿活动。

"If you see a house that you know is mining crypto, tell that person to turn off the farm, or just report it directly," he stated. "They are deducting power straight from the grid so that they can earn some money. And we will be left without electrical service if they don't stop."

他说：“如果你看到一栋你知道正在开采加密货币的房子，请告诉那个人关闭农场，或者直接报告。” “他们直接从电网中扣除电力，这样他们就可以赚一些钱。如果他们不停止，我们将失去电力服务。”

He added that these farms consume so much power that they could potentially lead to nationwide blackouts.

他补充说，这些农场消耗的电力如此之多，可能会导致全国范围内的停电。

Corruption Issues in Government Ministries

政府部门的腐败问题

Despite these measures, the crackdown has raised concerns about corruption. Last year, the Venezuelan government targeted corrupt activities within major state institutions like Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and the National Superintendency of Crypto Assets (Sunacrip), resulting in several arrests.

尽管采取了这些措施，打击行动还是引起了人们对腐败的担忧。去年，委内瑞拉政府针对委内瑞拉石油公司 (PDVSA) 和国家加密资产监管局 (Sunacrip) 等主要国家机构内的腐败活动进行了打击，导致多人被捕。

Joselit Ramírez of Sunacrip and Tareck El Aissami, a former oil minister, were among those apprehended for serious allegations, including treason and misuse of power.

Sunacrip 的 Joselit Ramírez 和前石油部长 Tareck El Aissami 均因叛国和滥用权力等严重指控而被捕。

As the situation unfolds, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict reports over 200 protests triggered by frequent power outages in the first few months of the year, highlighting the public's frustration and the critical state of Venezuela's electrical infrastructure.

随着事态的发展，委内瑞拉社会冲突观察站报告称，今年头几个月频繁停电引发了200多起抗议活动，凸显了公众的沮丧情绪和委内瑞拉电力基础设施的危急状态。