Court acquits citizen in cryptocurrency mining case
. . . ordered to pay 1000 dinars fine for not holding license and using a residential facility for the operation
In a landmark decision on cryptocurrency mining cases, the Criminal Court, headed by Counselor Al-Dhuwaihi Mubarak Al-Dhuwaihi, acquitted a Kuwaiti citizen of the charge of “directly engaging in activity that can harm the interests of the country.”
The court, however, ordered him to pay 1,000 dinars fine for establishing a cryptocurrency mining project without a license and using a residential building for the operation.
The ruling clarifies that the activity did not constitute harm to national interests, as it was limited to an internal facility and could not plausibly affect Kuwait’s international standing or political and financial position.
The court found that the accused showed no criminal intent and that the act did not pose a danger, justifying acquittal from the first charge.
However, the court acknowledged that the unlicensed mining project violated energy consumption regulations under Law 43 of 1964 and misused residential electricity.
