Taliban targeting cryptocurrency traders in Afghanistan.
According to Bloomberg’s report, Afghanistan authorities have detained 13 cryptocurrency traders so far.
Taliban Increases Raid on Crypto Industry
Sayed Shah Sa’aadaat, a senior Afghan police officer, spoke to Bloomberg about the raids that detained 13 people. Saadat stated that some Afghans are holding their money in crypto to hide from the Taliban:
“The central bank has instructed us to stop crypto exchanges, individuals and business people trading fake digital currencies commonly referred to as Bitcoin.”
More than 20 crypto businesses have been shut down in Herat, the country’s third-largest city, according to Bloomberg.
The country’s economy has suffered greatly since the Taliban came to power, according to data from the Financial Times. Unemployment in the country increased sharply.
The Taliban ruled the country before the US invasion in 2001. After the withdrawal of US forces, control of the country fell back into the hands of the Taliban.
The BBC has revealed that since the Taliban came to power, the use of crypto has increased in Afghanistan.
The past day, Afghan authorities closed 16 cryptocurrency exchanges in the country.
