In Venezuela, security forces are said to be raiding Bitcoin mining farms with the aim of confiscating the equipment. However, mining pool Doctorminer and other hashrate (computing power) producers in the country have denied the information released on social media yesterday.
Doctorminer took to Twitter to clarify that it is conducting “nationwide inspections of all duly registered companies” involved in mining Bitcoin in Venezuela.
In his message he does not mention who or which agency is in charge of these reviews, although other miners have told cryptocurrency that the companies are being inspected by officials from the National Electricity Corporation (Corpoelec) and the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin). .
“There have been no arrests, no raids, no kidnappings,” Doctorminer added on Twitter, which was confirmed by other sources consulted by the cryptocurrency. This marked a departure from some reports that thousands of Bitcoin mining equipment had been seized.
No seizures of Bitcoin miners, but an intriguing inspection
A miner explained to crypto-currency, under the guarantee of anonymity, how the inspection process he witnessed unfolded.
“Officials take an inventory of the mining equipment at each of the farms. They take photographs and video to record the current state of the mining facilities and throughout the process they insist on knowing who owns the equipment. Apparently they are trying to link these machines to some official under investigation or to some Sunacrip official who is under arrest." – Bitcoin miner in conversation with crypto-currency under guarantee of anonymity.
The Bitcoin hashrate producer then referred to a detail he called intriguing, suspecting that something might be hiding behind that action. It refers to a series of posters placed by Sebin in strategic points of the farms inspected.
"On the miners, on the shelves, in the offices, on the control panels and even on the main door of the mining farms, they put a sign with the logo of the National Anti-Corruption Police, on which the word 'Secured' is written."
When in doubt, officials assure that the placard is part of the routine and that a visit from the governing body is required, who will indicate the steps to be taken.
So where is the Venezuelan digital mining regulator?
As the rumors multiply, fueled by the lack of official information, the Bitcoin mining companies operating under license in the country have already been paid for three weeks.
After the intervention of the National Superintendency of Cryptoassets (Sunacrip), following investigations for corruption, uncertainty remains about the Venezuelan digital mining sector.
Furthermore, the cloud of stigmatization hangs over the industry again, as more and more comments are heard and observed from people who doubt whether Bitcoin mining is legal in the country.
Similarly, miners say they are feeling attacked by old myths again, as the activity is once again associated with theft, corruption or money laundering.
Amid all of this, there has been no official pronouncement on the agency's future, leading some miners to speculate that Sunacrip may disappear as a regulator.
Some even suspect that regulation could be left in the hands of Corpoelec or another existing body. Meanwhile, everyone is concerned that the country's cryptocurrency industry is currently in legal limbo.
