Hold on. How can the mafia, or government for that matter, systematically stop people from mining small amounts crypto (possibly arbitraging a huge gulf between electricity prices and USD exchange rates)?
Other than the electricity cost how can they find you? People have found many more clever ways to hide economic activity in dangerous situations (see black markets in North Korea).
I thought the whole point of cryptocurrencies was to exactly to get around this central control. If this wasn't possible, it’s an unfortunate and interesting example of how bitcoins ideologies don’t work in reality.
Other than the electricity cost how can they find you? People have found many more clever ways to hide economic activity in dangerous situations (see black markets in North Korea).
I thought the whole point of cryptocurrencies was to exactly to get around this central control. If this wasn't possible, it’s an unfortunate and interesting example of how bitcoins ideologies don’t work in reality.
Edit: Huh, what's with the downvotes?