[ti:Bitcoin Becomes More Popular in Iran] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.01]Iranians are increasingly turning to digital currency, such as Bitcoin, to make money. [00:09.17]The situation is creating alarm in and out of the country. [00:15.44]In Iran, some government officials worry that Bitcoin "mining" is abusing Iran's system of government-supported electricity. [00:28.39]In the United States, some observers warn that digital currencies could be used to go around economic restrictions targeting Iran. [00:41.44]Bitcoin is like money, but it is different than the paper money printed by governments around the world. Central banks do not control it. [00:54.91]Instead, bitcoin and digital currencies like it trade globally in high-risk markets. [01:04.62]The markets depend on computers around the world to "mine" the data. [01:12.16]In other words, the computers use highly complex mathematics to approve exchanges. [01:20.08]But the computers are not only costly; they also require a lot of electricity to work. [01:28.67]In Iran, "miners" are in a good position because the government helps pay for electricity. [01:37.19]"Miners" in Iran also buy less-costly Chinese ready-made computers. [01:44.78]Those contacted by The Associated Press news agency refused to speak about their work or to say how much they earn from their "mining." [01:57.42]But the "miners" admit they do it to make some money at a time when the value of Iran's currency, the rial, has fallen. [02:08.63]Since 2015, the rial has dropped from 32,000 rials to $1, to around 120,000 rials to $1 now. [02:22.77]Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi is Iran's minister for information and communications technology. [02:32.90]He says, "The business of ‘mining' is not forbidden in law." [02:38.65]However, he notes that the government and Central Bank have banned the import of mining machines until new regulations are introduced. [02:50.89]Ali Bakhshi is the head of the Iran Electrical Industry Syndicate. [02:57.95]He said earlier this month that the country's Energy Ministry would likely increase costs for Bitcoin "miners" to 7 cents for each kilowatt of electricity they use. [03:13.90]The current price is about a half-cent. [03:17.97]Still, there are concerns, especially among Iran's religious leaders, that people might try to avoid paying extra for the electricity. [03:30.69]Using digital currency to hide or move money illegally is another concern. [03:37.52]U.S. officials have also been keeping a close watch on Iranians holding bitcoins. [03:44.78]In November, a court in Newark, New Jersey accused two Iranian men of hacking and holding hostage computer systems in order to get payment in bitcoins. [03:59.55]Sigal Mandelker is the U.S. Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. [04:09.49]Mandelker said Iran is becoming increasingly isolated and desperate for access to U.S. dollars. [04:18.99]As a result, she said, digital currency services need to protect themselves against illegal activity. [04:28.83]Jahromi, Iran's minister for information and communications technology, did not seem to think such steps were necessary. [04:40.19]He said digital currencies were effective in getting around economic restrictions for small purchases or exchanges. [04:49.59]But, he said, he did not think they could be used for big things. [04:55.00]"We cannot use them to go around" international money systems, he said. [05:01.25]I'm John Russell. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM