Share this article
Abu Dhabi Bans Crypto Mining on Farms, Citing Energy Use
Farms caught mining cryptocurrency will face penalties, including a fine of 100,000 dirham ($27,000), doubled for repeat offenses.
Oct 2, 2025, 12:50 p.m.
What to know:
- Abu Dhabi's Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has reaffirmed a ban on cryptocurrency mining on farms in the emirate, citing that it clashes with the intended use of farmland.
- Farms caught mining cryptocurrency will face penalties, including a fine of 100,000 dirhams (approximately $27,000), which is doubled for repeat offenses.
- The ban is part of a broader effort to regulate energy consumption, as cryptocurrency mining has been known to have a significant impact on energy demand.
Abu Dhabi’s Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has reaffirmed a ban on cryptocurrency mining across farms in the emirate, warning that violators face stiff penalties and disconnection from government services.
The move follows recent discoveries of farms repurposing land and electricity for mining digital assets, uses not permitted under existing agricultural regulations.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
According to ADAFSA, such activities clash with the intended function of farmland, which is limited to cultivating crops and raising livestock.
Farms caught mining will be fined 100,000 dirham (about $27,000), with the penalty doubling on repeat offenses. Beyond the fine, ADAFSA will cut off electricity, confiscate equipment, and halt access to agricultural support programs.
Offenders, both owners and tenants, may also be referred to other authorities for further action, ADAFSA said.
The energy demand from cryptocurrency mining has prompted other bans throughout the world. Late last year, Russia imposed a six-year ban in 10 regions over the energy consumption.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
More For You
What to know:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
More For You
French Banking Giant BPCE to Roll Out Crypto Trading for 2M Retail Clients
The service will allow customers to buy and sell BTC, ETH, SOL, and USDC through a separate digital asset account managed by Hexarq.
What to know:
- French banking group BPCE will start offering crypto trading services to 2 million retail customers through its Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne apps, with plans to expand to 12 million customers by 2026.
- The service will allow customers to buy and sell BTC, ETH, SOL, and USDC through a separate digital asset account managed by Hexarq, with a €2.99 monthly fee and 1.5% transaction commission.
- The move follows similar initiatives by other European banks, such as BBVA, Santander, and Raiffeisen Bank, which have already started offering crypto trading services to their customers.
Top Stories
