Libyan authorities have dismantled a crypto mining operation in the country’s west, the prosecution in Tripoli said Thursday, adding that 50 Chinese nationals had been detained. A video shared on the Facebook page of the Tripoli prosecutor’s office showed several structures without any windows but dozens of industrial fans, with large quantities of computers and hardware. On Wednesday, prosecutors announced authorities had dismantled another illegal crypto-mining farm in the port city of Misrata, adding it was operated by 10 Chinese nationals. According to tech watchdog Digiconomist, mining for bitcoin — the world’s most popular cryptocurrency — requires about 1,150 kWh of electricity. Many countries worldwide have banned crypto mining including China, which had been a global leader in manufacturing virtual currency before forbidding it in June 2021.

Source: Libya Today June 23, 2023 16:01 UTC