‘Crypto’ mining is crime in Kuwait

20/05/2026

KUWAIT CITY, May 20: The Court of Appeals issued its first final and unappealable ruling in cryptocurrency mining cases, affirming that trading and mining cryptocurrencies without obtaining a license from the competent authorities constitutes a criminal offense under the law. The court indicated that the penalty for such crimes may reach up to two years’ imprisonment with hard labor. However, taking into account the defendants’ clean criminal records, the court imposed fines of KD 1,000 on each defendant and ordered the confiscation of the seized mining equipment, computers, and receivers. The court also acquitted the defendants of the charge of harming national security, and acquitted one defendant of all charges brought against him.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies