Paraguay Uncovers 2 Illegal Bitcoin Mining Sites, Seizes 35 Machines

Paraguayan authorities have uncovered two digital-asset mining sites, including Bitcoin (BTC) operations, that used electricity illegally and seized 35 mining machines.

CryptoNoticias reported on September 19 that Paraguay’s state power utility ANDE, along with police and prosecutors, recently uncovered illegal mining sites in Minga Guazu and Ciudad del Este in Alto Parana.

A site discovered in Minga Guazu on September 17 was found to have drawn electricity directly without passing through a meter. Authorities seized 10 application-specific integrated circuit, or ASIC, miners at the scene and imposed penalties of about 176.16 million guaranies, or roughly $30,000, including unpaid electricity bills and fines.

Earlier, on September 12, authorities seized 25 digital-asset mining machines from a house in the Remansito area of Ciudad del Este. Police responded to a noise complaint and inspected the site with ANDE.

The string of illegal mining busts has also prompted action in Paraguay’s Congress. The Chamber of Deputies on September 16 approved a resolution requiring ANDE to submit data on the digital-asset mining industry’s actual electricity consumption, applicable tariffs, related revenue and enforcement activity.