Chinese crackdown on crypto-mining focuses on computer rooms and ‘home miners’

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Source: AdobeStock / littlewolf1989

After effectively wiping out its industrial sector of crypto mining, China is now tackling the small fry: Internet cafe and PC-based gambling hall operators – and even those who operate platforms and cards at the same time. home – as Beijing prepares to crush the mining industry once and for all.

China, like many other countries in East Asia, has a thriving PC gaming culture. Most gamers prefer to play in common rooms, where they pay by the hour for the time they use the PC. These computer rooms, known as wǎngbā (网吧) in Chinese, are usually equipped with high-end computers with powerful GPUs and fast processors.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, PC gaming rooms have been closed across the country, in order to comply with social distancing rules. Computer room operators in China (and elsewhere in East Asia) used this hardware, which was then inactive, to mine bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and altcoins.

But following the September crackdown on industrial mining, Beijing is now targeting computer room operators who have yet to uninstall cryptocurrency mining software – or who think they can avoid detection. .

The government allowed provinces and cities to enforce the policy, and police took to WeChat groups of computer room owners to warn of the dangers of non-compliance.

According to a Laun report163,

Authorities in Lau’an City said they would tighten up “enforcement” of crypto-related decrees and engage in “computer room supervision,” as well as “promptly stop mining activities. virtual currency in internet cafes and further promote energy conservation and emission reduction.

Caijing M also reported that “individual minors” were also affected.

The media report claimed that broadband access was “monitored” in the case of individuals whom ISPs suspected of exploiting tokens from their homes.

ISPs have been told that they can (or perhaps should) “take steps directly to disconnect” crypto miners from the networks.

He added that “some underage players are [minting coins] on their personal computers and are directly monitored by broadband operators.

Web service providers have also been ordered to block domain names from mining pools.

Either way, some seem poised to challenge Beijing, the outlet noted that there were “still a few computer room companies” involved in mining, while “some companies” are still “engaged in mining. trade ”in mining equipment.

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Learn more:

– Senior Chinese official expelled for “supporting cryptocurrency mining” – No, “non-ban” on Bitcoin mining is not on Beijing’s agenda

– SBI boss says China leads CBDC race – ahead of US and Europe – Chinese central government wants to create “digital asset swaps” as CBDC approaches

– Chinese central bank: NFT and Metaverse “could become money laundering tools” – Crypto crime continues to rise in China despite crackdown, authorities warn

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