Iran's parliament moves a two-urgency bill against illegal crypto miners; estimated draw about 2,000 MW

Ahmad Moradi, head of the electricity committee of the Iranian parliament's energy commission, said on Saturday 1 August 2026 (10 Mordad 1405) that parliament has set in motion a two-urgency bill for firmer action against illegal cryptocurrency miners. The Mehr news agency carried the remarks, citing the Ministry of Energy. According to Moradi, estimates indicate that about 2,000 MW of the country's electricity capacity is consumed by unauthorised miners.

Moradi, who represents Hormozgan province, said the use of subsidised electricity by some industrial units and individuals for unauthorised crypto mining is a leading source of strain on the grid and of the worsening power imbalance, and directly damages production and industry. He added that the two-urgency bill is designed to close legal gaps in tackling electricity theft by unauthorised mining rigs and to introduce deterrent penalties.

He also pointed to the Ministry of Energy's "Mahtab" scheme, running in several provinces, which focuses on identifying units in industrial estates that divert part of their electricity supply to unauthorised activity in breach of their operating licences.