Iranian Central Bank’s Mandatory Crypto Sales Rule for Miners: What You Need to Know

When you hear that the Iranian Central Bank (CBI) has rolled out a new framework that forces crypto miners to sell a portion of their output to the state, it sounds like another heavy‑handed move. In reality, the rule is part of a broader 2025 regulatory overhaul that blends licensing, data transparency, and energy management. This article breaks down what the law actually says, how miners can stay compliant, and what the ripple effects might be for the Iranian crypto ecosystem.

Why the Central Bank is Getting Involved

Back in January2025, President Masoud Pezeshkian officially handed the CBI the exclusive mandate to police every crypto‑related activity in Iran-mining, trading, and even holding digital assets. The government’s goal is three‑fold:

• Capture revenue from the lucrative mining sector to offset sanctions‑driven losses.
• Prevent capital flight by restricting domestic crypto payments.
• Maintain strict oversight of energy consumption, which strains an already fragile grid.

These objectives birthed the Policy and Regulatory Framework for Cryptocurrencies, a document that forces every participant to register, share data, and, for miners, allocate a slice of their daily hash‑rate output to the state‑approved channels.

What "Mandatory Crypto Sales" Actually Means

The phrase mandatory crypto sales has sparked headlines, but the legal text is more nuanced. Here’s the core requirement:

1. Every licensed mining operation must report its total daily hash‑rate to the CBI via a government API.
2. Based on that report, the CBI assigns a %‑value-usually between 10% and 20%-that must be sold to a state‑run exchange within 48hours.
3. The exchanged crypto is immediately converted to rial and deposited into a designated Treasury account.

The rule applies whether the miner runs a small rooftop rig or a massive 175‑MW farm like the one in Rafsanjan that the IRGC co‑owns. Non‑compliant operators face hefty fines, revocation of licenses, and potential seizure of equipment.

Licensing and Data Transparency: The Two Pillars

Before any miner can even think about sales, they need a CBI license. The licensing process, outlined in the Crypto Mining License, requires:

• Proof of ownership or lease of the power supply.
• Installation of a real‑time monitoring system that feeds hash‑rate data to the central API.
• Annual AML/CTF audits that include KYC checks on any personnel handling the crypto output.

Data transparency isn’t just a bureaucratic hoop-it’s the engine that lets the CBI calculate the mandatory sales slice. The API captures every block mined, timestamps, and the wallet addresses used for the mandatory sales.

Energy Constraints and the Role of the IRGC

Iran’s power grid is already under pressure. Unauthorized mining farms were blamed for nationwide outages in December2024, prompting the government to tighten enforcement. The IRGC, which runs many of the state‑aligned farms, now works hand‑in‑hand with the CBI to allocate dedicated, low‑cost electricity to licensed miners. In exchange, those farms must meet the mandatory sales quota and submit detailed energy consumption reports.

Compliance Checklist for Miners

Impact on the Iranian Crypto Market

Since the mandatory sales rule went live, a few trends are emerging:

• Liquidity Shift: State‑run exchanges see a steady inflow of Bitcoin and Ethereum, improving rial‑crypto convertibility for the government.
• Reduced illicit mining: Unauthorized farms are shrinking as the penalty risk rises.
• Price pressure: Selling 10‑20% of daily output can push local crypto prices down, especially for Ethereum.
• Investor sentiment: International observers view the rule as a sign that Iran can monetize its mining power without completely opening the market.

Meanwhile, the Digital Rial Pilot on Kish Island is being fine‑tuned using the state‑collected crypto revenues, hinting at a future where the government could replace a chunk of dollar demand with locally‑minted digital currency.

What Miners Can Do to Stay Ahead

Even with the rule in place, there are ways to protect profitability:

1. Optimize Mining Pools: Join pools that let you allocate the mandatory sales portion to a specific wallet, simplifying the conversion step.
2. Invest in Energy Efficiency: Use ASICs with higher hash‑per‑watt ratios; lower electricity bills mean the sales slice eats up less of your margin.
3. Diversify Crypto Types: The CBI’s percentage applies across all mined coins; shifting a part of your operation to mine less volatile tokens can smooth revenue.
4. Stay Informed on % Changes: The CBI reviews the sales percentage quarterly. Keeping tabs on official bulletins helps you forecast cash flow.

Finally, build a solid compliance team. Legal counsel familiar with Iranian AML law and an IT group that can handle the API integration are worth the upfront cost.

Future Outlook: Will the Rule Evolve?

Experts predict two possible paths:

• Increased Centralization: The government could tighten the percentage, especially if rial inflation spikes, turning mining into a reliable revenue stream.
• Gradual Liberalization: International pressure might coax Tehran into easing the rule, perhaps allowing a small portion of mined crypto to stay with the operator for export.

Either way, the next six months will be telling. Watch for announcements from the CBI’s “Crypto Oversight Committee” and any new directives from the Cyberspace Council.