In contrast to many other jurisdictions, in Iran cryptocurrency miners are required to register as a “Crypto-Miner” and get two separate sorts of license, namely, the establishment permit and the operation permit. The first one is valid for a period of six months, while the operation permit shall be renewed every year.
Crypto-mining in Iran is labeled as “industry”, so it’s outside the realm of Central Bank of Iran (CBI). The Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade (MIMT) is entrusted with licensing and registration of cryptocurrency miners.
Mining crypto-currencies in Iran is subject to two pivotal regulations: “Mining Procedures for Encrypted Processed Products”, issued on August 4, 2019 and “Guidelines for Obtaining Crypto-Mining License and Issuing Crypto-Mining Operation Permit”, confirmed on November 13. the first instrument has been issued by Council of Ministers, while the latter is an MIMT guidelines, based on the former instrument and provides instructions on how to get permit to crypto-mining.
Two months after confirming the permit guidelines, the legal department of Judiciary delivered an advisory opinion and underscored an essential standpoint on the matter. According to this opinion, cryptocurrencies are not subject to the “Anti-Smuggling Act of Merchandise and Currency” and in view of the Council of Ministers regulation, related transactions of Bitcoin miners are not considered as criminal, unless under customs laws or article 687 of Islamic Penal Code (Punishments), which deals with the crime of sabotage.