libya

According to The New Arab, Libyan authorities have intensified their crackdown on the cryptocurrency mining industry.In November 2025, prosecutors charged 9 individuals operating Bitcoin mining equipment at a steel plant in Zliten, 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 define mining as a criminal act. Miners are usually brought to court not for the act of cryptocurrency mining itself, but often for a series of illegal activities that accompany it, 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 leaving it unchecked."

ChainCatcher news, Binance announced that it will airdrop $100 worth of BNB to all Binance users who complete the Proof of Address (POA) in Libya by September 11, 2023. For existing users who complete the POA after September 11, 2023, and before September 30, 2023, Binance will directly donate $25 worth of BNB to the users' Binance accounts. Additionally, all users actively trading in Libya will receive $10 worth of BNB. The donated funds will be sent to users starting from September 13, 2023.Binance commits to donating up to $500,000 worth of BNB, and it is expected to directly support approximately 13,000 users through these efforts. Binance Charity has launched a public donation address for everyone to contribute. Recently, Binance has also provided corresponding support for users in Ukraine, Turkey, and Morocco.

ChainCatcher news, the Libyan Attorney General's office announced on Friday that Libyan authorities have arrested 50 Chinese citizens suspected of participating in illegal cryptocurrency mining activities in the city of Zliten. The statement said that these detainees were engaged in illegal cryptocurrency mining activities in an abandoned iron factory on the western coast of Libya.Additionally, according to the Attorney General's office, 10 Chinese citizens were "caught in the act" and arrested in Misrata on Wednesday, with dozens of mining machines confiscated.Despite an official ban, Libya remains the country with the highest proportion of cryptocurrency mining in Africa, accounting for about 0.6% of global Bitcoin production in 2021. Libya has become an ideal location for cryptocurrency mining due to its low electricity costs, at just $0.004 per kilowatt-hour, which is about 40 times cheaper than in the United States.However, political instability has severely damaged Libya's power grid. Authorities are intensifying efforts to crack down on such activities and investigate other potential mining sites. (source link)