Future Tech

Beijing court rules bitcoin mining contracts ‘invalid’, advises local governments to shut down remaining farms

Tan KW
Publish date: Fri, 17 Dec 2021, 12:03 AM
Tan KW
0 464,796
Future Tech
Following Message
A court in Beijing has rejected a lawsuit seeking monetary damages from a blockchain firm after its client failed to make money on bitcoin mining, in a case that suggests China’s judicial system has no intention of recognising and protecting cryptocurrency-related interests.
 
In the first such case tried in China’s capital city, the Chaoyang District People’s Court said on Wednesday that the contracts were “invalid”, according to reports by various state-run media, including Xinhua News Agency and CCTV.
 
In May 2019, when China still tolerated bitcoin mining, Beijing Phonf Marketing Technology entered into three agreements with Zyzc Blockchain Technology, paying 10mil yuan for the deployment of mining machines in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern Sichuan province.
 
At that time some local governments, including those in Sichuan, offered incentives to companies to encourage energy-intensive mining farms so they would consume excessive hydro power.
 
Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture was one of six “model zones” selected to carry out business activities that could absorb the excess energy being generated.
 
However, in May 2021 China’s State Council announced a crackdown on bitcoin mining, on top of the then existing ban on cryptocurrency trading.
 
In the court case, Beijing Phonf argued that it only earned 18.35 bitcoin, worth around US$900,000 based on Thursday’s market value, but even lower based on bitcoin’s value over the past summer. The plaintiff demanded the blockchain company turn in another 278.17 bitcoin in compensation.
 
After the court rejected Beijing Phonf’s case, it informed the Sichuan branch of the National Development and Reform Commission, which moved to shut down any remaining mining farms involved in the case, as well as other previously unknown projects.
 
Similar inspections have been going on in other provinces. In Zhejiang, the local disciplinary and internet authorities formed a special team that recently raided some 20 government-run organisations, such as laboratories and universities, and found that 14 were illegally mining cryptocurrencies.
 
The people involved were punished, some having their bonuses revoked, according to an article published Tuesday on the website of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. 
 
 - SCMP
More articles on Future Tech
Signal messenger blocked in Russia, says Roskomnadzor

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Cisco to lay off thousands more in second job cut this year, sources say

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Raptor Lake microcode limits Intel chips to a mere 1.55 volts to prevent CPU destruction

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Intel's annus horribilis continues as AMD gains ground

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Microsoft really wants those old Exchange 2016 servers put out to pasture

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Secure Web Gateways are anything but as infosec hounds spot dozens of bypasses

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Advertising Group Shutters After Elon Musk’s X Files Lawsuit

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Olympics Games Keep Going Viral

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Cisco to Lay Off Thousands of More Workers, Reuters Reports

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Paramount's Writedown, Silicon Valley and the Election | Bloomberg Technology

Created by Tan KW | Aug 10, 2024

Discussions
Be the first to like this. Showing 0 of 0 comments
Post a Comment