The "Law on the Prohibition of Cryptocurrency and Other Virtual Asset Mining" in Angola has officially gone into effect, as the Chinese Embassy reminded people.

According to this law, mining cryptocurrencies in the African nation is illegal and is subject to sentences of one to twelve years in prison.

Chinese miners have flocked to Angola, the third-biggest oil producer in Africa and formerly China's top crude oil supplier. Angola is known for its Bitcoin mining operations.

For those who participate in such activities, the new law, however, levies severe penalties.

According to the law, anyone found in possession of information, communications, or infrastructure equipment used for virtual currency "mining" might face a one- to five-year prison sentence and have the necessary equipment seized.

mining cryptocurrencies on your own, with others, or by connecting mining hardware will result in a sentence of three to twelve years in prison under the national power system.

A prison penalty of three to eight years awaits those who abuse energy facility licences for these kinds of operations.

According to a released statement, China has already outlawed the use of virtual currencies, declaring that,

"cryptocurrencies do not have the same legal status as legal tender" and that "engaging in cryptocurrency-related businesses is illegal financial behaviour."