Libyan authorities intensify crackdown on cryptocurrency mining

PANews December 19 News, according to The New Arab, Libyan authorities have stepped up their crackdown on the cryptocurrency mining industry. In November 2025, prosecutors charged nine individuals operating Bitcoin mining equipment inside a steel plant in Zlitan, sentencing them to three years in prison and ordering the confiscation of their equipment and the recovery of illegal profits. Although the Central Bank of Libya banned cryptocurrency trading in 2018 due to concerns over money laundering and terrorist financing, such mining activities continue to persist. Legal expert Nadia Mohammed stated: “Libyan law does not explicitly classify mining as a criminal offense. The reason miners are usually brought to court is not because of the act of crypto mining itself, but often due to a series of related illegal activities, such as illegal electricity use, importing prohibited equipment, or using the proceeds for money laundering and other illegal purposes. The central bank should issue licenses and authorizations to regulate this activity, rather than turning a blind eye.”