Is crypto mining legal in Venezuela?

Crypto mining in Venezuela is effectively illegal as of November 2026. The country once had a licensing system for miners, but the government has since cut mines off the grid and, in May 2026, declared mining banned across the whole country. Holding and trading crypto remain legal, as covered in is crypto legal in Venezuela.

What was the Sunacrip mining license?

Mining was formally regulated from September 2020, when Sunacrip, the national crypto regulator, published Providencia 084-2020 in the Official Gazette. It covered using, importing and selling mining equipment, hosting farms and repair services. Miners had to apply for a license through Sunacrip's online registry, known as RISEC, and enrol in a miners' register, El Diario reported.

Licensed miners also had to join a national mining pool run by Sunacrip, which shared block rewards according to each member's hash power. Mining outside the pool carried fines of 100 to 300 petros, the government's own token. Before the rules, mining was not illegal, but raids and machine seizures were common. For what a pool does, see what is a bitcoin mining pool.

What was the Venezuela mining ban of 2024?

In May 2024 the Ministry of Electrical Energy said it would cut all crypto miners off the national grid under a new control plan, citing grid stability, The Energy Mag reported. The week before, authorities seized more than 2,300 mining machines in Maracay. The crackdown was linked to a 2023 anti-corruption probe that suspended Sunacrip and led to the arrest of its former head. At the time, miners using their own power did not appear to be targeted.

Is bitcoin mining legal in Venezuela in 2026?

No. On May 8, 2026 the state broadcaster TVES reported that the ministry had formalised a total ban on crypto mining across the national territory. Minister Jorge Márquez said mining was incompatible with plans to stabilise the power supply. All mining farms were to be disconnected, and mining had no valid operating permits until further notice. People who continue face legal and criminal sanctions, and police have seized thousands of machines in states including Carabobo and Aragua.

Crypto Economy reported that electricity demand had reached about 15,000 MW in late April 2026, a nine-year high, and that no new mining licenses would be issued while the grid stays in a contingency phase. It said a review of the first half of 2026 would decide whether limits could ease in areas with surplus power. Those figures came mostly from government statements.

For why mining strains power systems, see how much electricity bitcoin mining uses. Other countries' rules are compared in is crypto mining legal.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the regulator or a qualified professional for your own situation.