Key facts:
-
Two houses had machines to mine bitcoin without authorization from SUNACRIP.
-
In total, 25 equipment were retained for Bitcoin mining in Bolivar state.
Six people were arrested in Venezuela for operating Bitcoin mining equipment without permits granted by the Superintendence of Cryptoassets and Related Activities (SUNACRIP).
The arrests occurred in two different operations, in the city of Puerto Ordaz, BolÃvar state. Between the two raids, they were confiscated a total of 25 computers for Bitcoin miningaccording to local media reports.
In the first operation, five people were arrested, who had a commercial premises inside a house with 19 Bitcoin miners without a SUNACRIP license. The second case is that of a 50-year-old woman who he had 6 miners in the main room of his house.
It is unknown whether SUNACRIP personnel were present in the operations, although there is talk of the participation of a prosecutor from the Public Ministry and a search warrant, following allegations about the connection of mining equipment without authorization.
Earlier this month, it was determined that police visits to miners could not be carried out without the presence of SUNACRIP, as Crypto News reported earlier this July.
This was announced in a meeting between the state body itself, miners, police forces and the National Association of Cryptocurrencies (ASONACRIP), a non-governmental organization whose purpose is to promote the development and use of cryptocurrencies in the South American country.
Legality of bitcoin mining in Venezuela
The seizure of equipment for Bitcoin mining and detention of its operators has become common in Venezuela. Although there is a legal framework for this activity, many people continue to operate outside SUNACRIP’s authorization.
A little less than a month ago, in this newspaper we reported the seizure of more than 400 machines to mine bitcoin in two operations, between the states Portuguesa and Barinas. This same year there have been other cases: more than 70 teams in the same state Bolivar, another 40 in Carabobo.
All in all, Venezuela has remained in recent years among the countries with the largest presence in Bitcoin mining in the world. This is reflected in data from the University of Cambridge and the analysis firm CoinShares, reviewed in this medium.