Tajikistan’s parliament has formally enacted amendments to the Criminal Code, introducing criminal liability for the unauthorized use of electricity to mine cryptocurrency.
The new law adds Article 253(2), titled "Illegal use of electricity for the production of virtual assets," The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.
Under the new law, violators face penalties ranging from fines of $1,650 to $8,250 or prison sentences of two to eight years, depending on the severity of the offense.
The base-level offense, using stolen electricity for mining, carries a fine equivalent to $1,650 to $4,070. If committed by a group acting in coordination, penalties increase to $4,125-8,250 or two to five years’ imprisonment.
In cases involving organized groups and “particularly large-scale” electricity theft, offenders may face five to eight years in prison.
Presenting the bill to parliament, Attorney General Khabibullo Vokhidzoda warned that unregulated mining has already contributed to regional power outages and an uptick in related crimes.
“The illegal circulation of virtual assets contributes to a number of crimes, such as electricity theft, damage to state infrastructure, and the laundering of criminal proceeds,” Vokhidzoda said.
He reported that damages from illegal mining operations have reached $3.52 million to date, with four to five criminal cases currently under investigation. Law enforcement officials have recorded cases of mining equipment being smuggled into the country and illegally connected to the national grid.
Member of Parliament Shukhrat Ganizoda outlined the technical challenges posed by such operations. “A typical ASIC consumes up to 3.5 kWh, while more powerful models use 5-6 kWh. Large farms run thousands of these devices, placing an enormous strain on the electrical system,” he said.
Ganizoda added that perpetrators often bypass meters or make illegal connections to reduce operating costs and maximize profits. The new legislation, he said, aims to deter tax evasion schemes, unauthorized data encryption, and attempts to circumvent commodity tracking systems.
The law will take effect after it is signed by President Emomali Rahmon and officially published in state media.
Tajikistan had already strengthened penalties for illegal electricity use and non-payment. Currently, such offenses are punishable by fines ranging from $2,970 to $9,900 or prison terms of three to ten years.
The legislative crackdown comes amid the country’s annual autumn-winter energy crisis. This year, electricity shortages are particularly severe, with some regions receiving just two to four hours of power per day. Authorities hope the new measures will ease pressure on the national grid and help prevent further outages.
