Marathon Digital, Kenyan government discuss crypto policy, energy use

As an analyst with a background in technology and economics, I see this development between Marathon Digital and the Kenyan government as a significant step forward for crypto adoption in Africa. Marathon’s expertise and experience in the crypto mining industry could help Kenya navigate the complex regulatory landscape and harness the vast potential of crypto mining for economic growth.


As a crypto investor, I’m keeping a close eye on Marathon Digital’s ongoing talks with the Kenyan government regarding their cryptocurrency regulations and energy demands for mining operations. With Kenya steadily tightening its grip on the crypto market, it will be intriguing to see how these discussions unfold and what implications they may have for miners like myself.

As a crypto investor, I recently learned that President William Ruto made an announcement during the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya Business Summit held towards the end of April. He revealed that Marathon has been requested to collaborate with both the National Treasury and Ministry of Energy in an advisory capacity. Unfortunately, this significant news didn’t reach the media immediately after the event.

At the recent event attended by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Marathon served as a top-tier sponsor. In his notable address, Ruto referred to the negotiations between him and Marathon on the following matter:

“This is a strong testament of the vast transformative possibilities that exist in an expanded and comprehensive understanding between the U.S. [and] East Africa concerning trade and investment.”

Marathon, headquartered in the US, partners with mining companies in Abu Dhabi and Paraguay for cryptocurrency extraction. Ranking among the world’s top five largest crypto miners, Marathon could potentially expand its operations to East Africa if negotiations succeed. However, this would not mark the first crypto mining presence in the region.

As a researcher studying the regulatory landscape of cryptocurrencies, I’ve observed that the Kenyan government held a cautious stance towards digital currencies for quite some time. However, following the election of President Ruto in September 2022, there were signs of a shift in their approach. In fact, in November 2022, two months into his tenure, the government initiated steps to regulate cryptocurrency transactions within its borders.

Marathon Digital, Kenyan government discuss crypto policy, energy use

The proposed legislation on cryptocurrency taxation and regulation is still being debated and welcomes public feedback. The Kenyan government consulted with the Blockchain Association of Kenya regarding a bill specifically targeting virtual asset service providers.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that the US has previously advocated for the American crypto industry’s interests in Kenya, but unfortunately, their efforts to persuade the Kenyan government to reverse its suspension of Worldcoin activities there were unsuccessful. The Kenyan authorities ordered the closure of Worldcoin operations back in August, stating security concerns as the reason. However, Worldcoin did not comply with this directive right away.

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2024-05-06 20:50