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Kosovo bans cryptocurrency mining after blackouts:
The government says security services will identify and clamp down on sources of cryptocurrency mining.
The mining is energy intensive and involves verifying digital transactions to get cryptocurrencies as a reward.
While all of Europe faces sharp price rises, Kosovo is enforcing rolling blackouts amid an electricity shortage.
The Balkan state's largest coal-fired power plant was shut down last month over a technical issue, forcing the government to import electricity at high prices.
A 60-day state of emergency, declared in December, gave the government powers to allocate more money for energy imports and impose stricter restrictions on power usage.
The blackouts have sparked protests and calls for the resignation of Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli.
Energy prices are skyrocketing across Europe for various reasons, including low supplies from Russia and high demand for natural gas as economies recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The spike has been fuelled by geopolitical tensions with Russia, which supplies one third of Europe's gas. Russia has rejected European accusations that it has limited gas deliveries while tensions are raised
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday January 09 2022, @12:16AM (1 child)
I take it Putin will get curb stomped Real Soon Now (TM) by scary Uncle Sam?
(Score: 2) by looorg on Sunday January 09 2022, @07:48AM
Who knows, he might be some kind of exception to the rule. It's much easier to curb stomp small tinpot dictators instead of big once. It's not that he couldn't, it might be a question of does he want to or is it worth the effort, the price and the cost.