Abu Dhabi bans crypto mining on farmland

Abu Dhabi’s agricultural regulator ADAFSA banned crypto mining on farmland. Violators face fines of up to AED 100,000, equipment seizure, and disconnection from utilities.

Farmland may only be used for agriculture

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) announced a ban on using farmland for crypto mining. To qualify for government subsidies, utilities, and municipal services, farmland must be dedicated solely to agricultural purposes.

Violators face a fine of 100,000 AED ($27,229), confiscation of mining hardware, suspension of services, and disconnection from the power grid. The regulator emphasized that such activities undermine sustainability policies and fall outside the permitted economic uses of farmland.

The debate on crypto mining and sustainability

The environmental impact of crypto mining remains controversial. Critics highlight pollution risks, while supporters point to the growing share of renewable energy in Bitcoin mining.

By 2023, more than 50% of Bitcoin mining was powered by hydropower, geothermal energy, or methane capture from waste and gas fields. A 2024 study outlined how landfill gas-to-energy systems could turn harmful methane into electricity while powering Bitcoin mining, cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite such findings, regulators worldwide remain cautious. U.S. lawmakers continue to pressure the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate mining more strictly, addressing greenhouse gases, water, air, and noise pollution from mining farms.