Cryptocurrency mining banned on Abu Dhabi farms

ADAFSA bans crypto mining on farms to protect agricultural sustainability, with violators facing AED100,000 fines and service suspensions.

ADAFSA bans crypto mining on Abu Dhabi farms to protect agricultural land, imposing AED100,000 fines and suspending services to ensure sustainable farming and biosecurity.

Abu Dhabi’s Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) reaffirms ban on crypto mining on farms to promote sustainable land use. Such activities fall outside the permitted economic uses, which are strictly limited to agriculture and livestock production.

The authority aims to protect the emirate’s agricultural sustainability and biosecurity.

Inspections revealed multiple farms misusing agricultural land for cryptocurrency mining, violating regulations designed to preserve farmland for its intended purpose. ADAFSA considers these activities detrimental to the core objectives of farming.

Consequently, the authority has vowed to take decisive action against non-compliant farms to uphold its policies. Violators face severe penalties, including a AED100,000 fine, doubled for repeat offences, alongside suspension of all farm support services.

Additional measures include electricity disconnection and confiscation of mining equipment, which is then referred to relevant authorities for further legal action. These steps ensure compliance with agricultural regulations.

ADAFSA calls on farm owners and workers to adhere to approved agricultural practices to maintain access to support programmes. They enforces measures to protect Abu Dhabi’s agricultural sustainability and prevent practices that harm its environmental and economic goals.

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