Kosovo have ramped up their efforts to crack down on crypto miners in the country, seizing more than 300 mining machines.
Kosovo police revealed that it had seized 272 “Antminer” Bitcoin mining machines in the municipality of Leposavic, and another 39 mining machines near Prishtina.
Meanwhile, the police also stopped a driver carrying 6 crypto mining machines with 42 graphics cards near Druar, in Vushtrri. The driver has since been interviewed and released.
The Minister for Economy tweeted her support for the Kosovo police, writing: “Tens of thousands of Euros per month of taxpayers’ money is saved which means energy for hundreds of Kosovar families during the crisis.”
Last Month Kosovo declared a state of emergency for 60 days amid an energy crisis and electricity shortages. Since then, the Minister of Economy introduced a blanket ban on crypto mining as Kosovo currently imports over 40% of its energy.
Bitcoin mining uses 101 TWh per year or more energy than the entire country of the Philippines. Despite this, miners are increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources, especially in the United States which has become the new hub for mining operations.
Until very recently, electricity has been free for those living in the Serb-majority Northern municipalities since the end of the Kosovo War in 1999.
