Democracy Dies in Darkness

Massive blackouts have hit Iran. The government is blaming bitcoin mining.

January 16, 2021 at 5:56 p.m. EST
An undated photo provided by Iranian police shows boxes of machinery used in bitcoin mining operations that were confiscated by police in Nazarabad, Iran. (AP)

Massive blackouts and smog have hit cities across Iran. It’s a toxic mix as the country, already under economic duress and suffocating U.S. sanctions, simultaneously battles the region’s worst coronavirus outbreak.

Blackouts are not new in Iran, where an aging and subsidized electricity sector is plagued by alleged mismanagement.