Why Abu Dhabi banned crypto mining on UAE Farms

Why Abu Dhabi banned crypto mining on UAE Farms

Recently the UAE Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) issued an advisory to UAE farmers stating that crypto mining on farms could cause a sharp spike in electricity bills and cannot be carried out on UAE farm lands. For some this is confusing given that in many countries it is encouraged to utilize bitcoin mining for farming and agriculture.

As per the announcement published in Khaleej Times, “This activity is considered a misuse of the farm for purposes other than its intended use.” Those caught mining crypto on farms shall face fines of up to Dh10,000, it added.

Bitcoin Mining and High energy, water costs

This is not the first time Bitcoin or crypto mining is associated with high energy usage and costs. In a research paper entitled,” The Environmental Footprint of Bitcoin Mining Across the Globe: Call for Urgent Action. Earth’s Future, 2023” the authors used energy, carbon, water and land use data from 2020 to 2021 to calculate country-specific environmental impacts for 76 countries known to mine bitcoin. They focused on bitcoin because it’s older, popular and more well-established/widely used than other cryptocurrencies.

As per the research if bitcoin mining were a country, it would be ranked 27th in energy use globally. Overall, bitcoin mining consumed about 173 terawatt hours of electricity in the two years from January 2020 to December 2021, about 60% more than the energy used for bitcoin mining in 2018-2019, the study found. Bitcoin mining emitted about 86 megatons of carbon, largely because of the dominance of fossil fuel-based energy in bitcoin-mining countries.

In terms of water, global Bitcoin mining used 1.65 million liters (about 426,000 gallons) of water in 2020-2021, enough to fill more than 660,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. China, the U.S. and Canada had the largest water footprints. Kazakhstan and Iran, which along with the U.S. and China have suffered from water shortages, were also in the top-10 list for water footprint.

“These are very, very worrying numbers,” Madani said. “Even hydropower, which some countries consider a clean source of renewable energy, has a huge footprint.”

Yet in terms of land use, the study analysed land use by considering the area of land affected to produce energy for mining. The land footprint of server farms is negligible, Kaveh said. The global land use footprint of bitcoin mining is 1,870 square kilometres (722 square miles), with China’s footprint alone taking up 913 square kilometres (353 square miles). The U.S.’ land footprint is 303 square kilometres (117 square miles), and likely growing while China’s is shrinking.

ADAFSA Justified in its decision

Mohamed El Masri, Founder and CEO of Permianchain, a blockchain start-up based in Toronto, Canada, that operates a permissioned blockchain platform to unlock liquidity from unused or underutilized natural resources reserves offering a mechanism for funding and energy creation for bitcoin mining and other sectors, explains, “I believe the recent warning by ADAFSA is justifiable and should have come way sooner. In my opinion, the AED 10,000 fine is a good warning fine, but if those miners do not comply, they should be fined a full year of bitcoin production (revenue) and be banned from ever conducting bitcoin mining business in the country.”

According to El Masri it is necessary to impose good practice and a sound regulatory compliant environment to maintain the UAE’s leading crypto stance. He notes, “Bitcoin mining is meant to be a social and economic practice that improves the livelihood of communities where energy and natural resources are underutilized, wasted or require commercial viability to bring to market. By hoarding power on agriculture land where it’s intended purpose is to bring much needed food security to the nation, I find that quite a waste of much needed resources.”

He explains that mining on agricultural land is not scalable anyway, and will not last. He states, “It was always a temporary fix for small-time retail mining managers to make a quick buck… the intention of these operators is money and not community or to build a circular economy for new wealth.”

He offers a solution which entails utilizing bitcoin mining in greenhouses and agribusiness to make use of the heat by-product for water heating, greenhouse crop production and other innovations are already being put to practice in various parts of the world.

Utilizing Bitcoin mining for sustainable Farming

This is true, other countries have opted for using excess energy, such as the methane waste on farms to use for Bitcoin mining.  The mining of Bitcoin, requiring substantial energy input for the computational processes, can effectively harness this surplus methane, mitigating its impact as a potent greenhouse gas while simultaneously transforming waste into wealth.

The AmityAge Mining Farm in Slovakia exemplifies this fusion, transforming human and animal waste into biogas, consequently powering their Bitcoin mining rigs. This dual benefit fosters sustainability while offering a robust business model that mitigates greenhouse gas emissions.

In Canada a Manitoba company is using waste heat from bitcoin miners to heat their Greenhouse and fish farm business. In addition Myera Group in Canada is merging the worlds of Bitcoin mining and sustainable agriculture. Within the walls of a former car museum, Bruce Hardy, president of Myera Group, orchestrates a unique operation where more than 30 miners hash away on the second floor, quietly mining bitcoin while generating heat that serves a dual purpose, powering the ASIC miners and nurturing nearby plants in a greenhouse.

Even Iceland which boasts of an abundant supply of renewable energy, making it attractive hub for bitcoin miners, but is plagued with a large gap in food trade balance, depending on imports for basic necessities, is considering utilizing the synergy between bitcoin mining and use of renewable energy to offer a heating solution for businesses and greenhouses.

UAE Bitcoin Mining

In Conclusion the issue might not be Bitcoin mining on farms per say, but on what energy resources are used for Bitcoin mining, and how the excess heat from Bitcoin mining can be used for something useful allowing for a sustainable process, with less effect on the environment while enabling food sustainability.

This is especially important given that Abu Dhabi in particular has become of a hub for Bitcoin mining in the MENA region. In 2023 Zero Two, and Marathon Digital Holdings, Joint entity based out of ADGM for crypto mining inaugurated  a 200 MW Bitcoin mining facility at Masdar Abu Dhabi.

As per Marathon digital website, Marathon digital is currently using UAE electricity grid to power the Bitcoin mining farm in Abu Dhabi, with 8,500 operational miners with a hashrate of 1.2 EH/s. ( They note on their website that *Data only represents Marathon’s share of the joint venture and not the total scope of operations). Marathon Digital own 20% of the joint venture.

Many in the ecosystem have noted that in the future, the UAE plans to use solar energy and nuclear energy as sustainable resources for energy production, until then whether Bitcoin is being mined on farms or elsewhere, the energy cost remains high.

Blockchain tokenization startup PermianChain and Saudi based Ejada partner to build distributed digital Energy Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia

Blockchain tokenization startup PermianChain and Saudi based Ejada partner to build distributed digital Energy Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia

In a move aimed at establishing robust, equitable energy systems, PermianChain Technologies Inc. (“PermianChain”) a WealthTech startup focused on natural resources tokenization and digital energy monetization and Saudi based Ejada Business for Energy a renewable energy developer (“Ejada”) have partnered to shape the future of renewable energy through distributed energy in Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC region. The agreement promises to revolutionize how renewable energy projects are developed and executed.

The partnership grants Ejada exclusive representation in Saudi Arabia for PermianChain’s innovative WealthTech platform-as-a-service. This platform offers sustainable finance opportunities and cutting-edge digital asset mining services. Ejada, a leading provider and developer of renewable energy services in the Saudi market, is poised to drive a substantial transformation within the regional energy sector.

Abdulrahman AlNimri, CEO of Ejada, stated, “Our steadfast commitment to strategically accelerate renewable energy in Saudi Arabia makes this partnership with PermianChain a pivotal step in maintaining Ejada’s competitive edge in regional energy system development. We aim to contribute significantly to economic and social growth.” Mr. AlNimri went on to emphasize that “the digital energy value chain, harnessed by the PermianChain platform, streamlines sustainable finance, offering new avenues for natural wealth creation and enabling unprecedented treasury optimization for both public and private sectors.”

PermianChain, known for its expertise in natural resource tokenization and digital asset mining, envisions itself as the gateway for investors and Web3 enthusiasts eager to participate in the burgeoning digital energy revolution. The PermianChain platform services are poised to unlock fresh opportunities for natural wealth creation. Mohamed El-Masri, founder and CEO at PermianChain Technologies, noted, “Our dedication to the PermianChain mission of building, managing, and operating a distributed digital energy market for decentralized compute applications has brought this partnership with Ejada in Saudi Arabia to fruition. We see promising opportunities in ambitious mega projects such as NEOM and smart cities, which rely heavily on AI and IoT technology, with increasing adoption of blockchain and digital assets in the region.”

An Invest Saudi report revealed that the Saudi market’s data center industry is rapidly expanding, with an expected market size of USD 19 billion by 2030. The Kingdom’s plans to expand traditional data center capacity to over 1GW, involving capital investments of USD 11 billion into the sector, underline the immense potential of the market. Both PermianChain and Ejada are determined to pioneer Saudi’s digital asset and blockchain data center market, to establish a strong presence in the GCC region, paving the way for expansion into the broader Middle East and Africa. This endeavor is contingent upon obtaining the necessary regulatory licenses to operate PermianChain’s holistic WealthTech platform, offering sustainable investments and digital asset mining services.

As of this announcement, PermianChain and Ejada have plans to develop, construct, and operate an initial 25 MW solar power plant. A portion of the power generation capacity will be allocated to users of PermianChain Miner, creating an exclusive offtake opportunity for low-cost power to drive digital asset mining and compute applications. This innovative approach allows regional investors to actively participate in building equitable energy systems while optimizing treasury.

What distinguishes this partnership is its unyielding dedication to the communities where energy projects are based. By pioneering a strict approach that ensures energy is consumed where it’s produced, PermianChain and Ejada aim to foster local development, generate employment opportunities, and stimulate sustainable growth in often overlooked regions.

This transformative alliance embodies the broader global shift toward clean energy, decentralized power generation, and the empowerment of underserved areas. It stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in realizing a future where energy is equitable, sustainable, and accessible to all.

The GCC and MENA region very attractive destination for crypto mining

The GCC and MENA region very attractive destination for crypto mining

Crypto mining is an integral part of the development of crypto economies. As the MENA region opens up its economy to digitization and crypto-related activities and as the world is challenged by an ongoing energy crisis, MENA is probing to become an attractive destination for crypto mining.

While the biggest crypto mining markets are currently in the USA, China, Kazakhstan and Canada, the energy crisis and the crypto bear market could help the GCC become a leading crypto mining hub.

Mohamed El Masri, founder and CEO of Permianchain, which operates Bitcoin mining data centers in Canada using wasted energy, states, “The adoption and implementation of blockchain data center infrastructure can support the digital stability and financial security of the GCC region. Hypothetically, the GCC has the opportunity to attract close to $1.0 trillion in economic growth by laying the groundwork for powering the digital economy.”

El Masri confirms the main challenge is calling out the financial regulators, mainly in the financial free zones, to stop taking the “enforceability approach” and take a “regulate-first approach.”

Nonrenewable resources to boost mining 

El Masri also mentions that given that the GCC is an oil and gas-rich region, there is an abundance of natural gas energy being wasted each day. Notably, such gas energy supports the implementation and commissioning of low-cost power plants to attract bitcoin mining companies from all over the world to set up in the region.

According to him, this will allow the region to become a leader in providing field-generated electricity “to power the future digital economy all while reducing emissions and decarbonizing the GCC’s oil and gas sector.”

The World Bank has reported that the MENA region accounted for 40% of the world’s flaring, with Iran, Iraq and Algeria generating 75% of MENA’s flaring. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar have low flaring intensity.

Adopting new technologies

Munaf Ali, founder and CEO of UAE-based Phoenix Group, involved in crypto mining equipment sales and projects, believes MENA is fast moving toward crypto and blockchain adoption.

“The Middle East is fast helping the global diversification of jurisdictions which are friendly to operate in,” Ali states. “This goes for countries where crypto firms can set up, whether they are crypto exchanges or mining operations.”

Ali confirms that GCC governments have started to address this by recognizing these new business activities and are issuing licenses to crypto market participants.

The Phoenix CEO espoused other benefits, including job creation, the development of a green renewable energy industry, and the generation of crypto/USD for circulation inside the local economy which in turn boosts economic activity.

Growing interest in mining

UAE investment firms have also shown interest in crypto mining investments. Nabyl Al Maskari, executive chairman of Al Maskari Holding, in a panel discussion during the Security Token Summit in June 2022, noted that there will be significant crypto mining investments happening in the UAE.

“We will have significant crypto-mining investments because the UAE is a low-cost energy producer,” Al Maskari certifies. “We are in the solar belt and have nuclear power with two reactors online. We can as such mine green Bitcoin or other tokens that come out.”

During Binance Week 2022, Khalifa AlJaziri, AlShehhi, Commercial Affairs Regulatory Sector Projects advisor at the Ministry of Economy in UAE, claimed that the Dubai World Trade Center Authority (DWTCA) would be legislating the crypto mining sector. He stated, “We are setting the guidelines and rules needed to regulate crypto mining within this crypto framework.

The UAE is not the only country that has shown interest in crypto mining. Oman Investment Authority (OIA) took part in a $350mn equity round in Crusoe Energy Systems. The US firm helps oil and gas producers cut flaring by using stranded natural gas to power cryptocurrency mining. Crusoe systems set up operations in Oman as well. 

Pierre Samaties, global head of Crypto Economy and Energy, reaffirmed that Bitcoin mining in the region is growing.

“Given we have a huge difference between the summer load curve and the winter load curve, Bitcoin mining helps to support renewable energy investments to increase utilization of the asset by using it during downtimes for Bitcoin mining,” Samaties says. The executive says this helps to balance the energy system.

Samaties also affirms that Bitcoin mining is seen as a strategic asset, a cornerstone for building a crypto economy in the region.

For those who would like to read or share this article in arabic it is also on Cointelegraph MENA 

Qatar to crypto or not to crypto that is the question

Qatar to crypto or not to crypto that is the question

This week Qatar made headlines in the Blockchain, crypto, NFT and metaverse scene on several fronts. While the CEO of Qatar  Sovereign Wealth Fund praised Blockchain but shunned crypto, Qatar’s Central Bank Governor stated that crypto assets are a technology innovation that will take us to a new era of fast accessible payments and financial services. Topping all this was Qatar Airways increased foray into the realm of the metaverse, and NFTs.

It seems that while the government of Qatar has yet to make up its mind on whether it wants to enter the era of cryptocurrencies, or whether they agree that crypto will have to be dealt with at one point or another, they are taking steps towards integrating elements of blockchain and CBDC into their strategies.During the Qatar Economic Forum Qatar Central Bank Governor Bandar Bin Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Thani admitted that Qatar is in the foundation stage of investigating a central bank Digital Currency (CBDC). As he noted, “Many central banks are now considering issuing CBDC, and we are not an exception to that. We are evaluating the pros and cons of issuing the CBDC and to find the proper and the right technology and the platform to issue.”He then noted, “Crypto assets are a technology innovation, and in my view it might take us to a new era of fast accessible payment and financial services.  “Those crypto assets which are not underlying by assets or monetary authority might be less credible.”

On the other hand Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund CEO Mansoor Al Mahmoud revealed that the wealth fund has no interest in investing in Bitcoin, but is still very much interested in exploring blockchain.

He was noted as saying, “Our team in the technology space is exploring opportunities in the blockchain,” Al Mahmoud said in an interview. He adds “This is the space that we’re interested in, not the currency itself.”

In the midst of these discussions Qatar Airways expressed its intention to include the purchase of tickets for physical flights through the QVerse metaverse, and the incorporation of NFTs. 

All this comes while the FIFA World Cup 2022 has partnered with the likes of crypto.com and Algorand Blockchain, and crypto exchange CoinMENA announces it is servicing clients in Qatar through its license in Bahrain. 

Qatar at one point will have to come to grips with the fact that with blockchain the metaverse and digitization comes digital assets, whether they are called cryptocurrencies, crypto assets, virtual assets, tokens or NFTs.

For example if Qatar were to utilize blockchain in the energy sector, and work with companies such as PermianChain which is tokenizing natural resources such as flared gas, and if they wanted to utilize PermianChain’s energy token marketplace, they would at some point need to use the DEC Token to optimize their experience. Tokens and Blockchain go hand in hand despite attempts to de-couple them.

One cannot implement blockchain, invest in blockchain nor create a CBDC to be held in digital wallets, without addressing the elephant in the room which is crypto and or digital asset. So instead of being the black sheep of the GCC Crypto hype, wouldn’t it be better if Qatar was the winning stallion.