Oman has mandated licensed miners to join a state-run pool — the country is centralizing Bitcoin mining.
Oman's authorities have taken a decisive step towards centralizing cryptocurrency mining: all licensed mining companies are now required to operate exclusively through a national pool. The initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in partnership with Frontier Technologies, with Enegix Global providing the technological foundation and liquidity infrastructure.
According to my data, the pool's total computing power at the initial stage will be approximately 10 EH/s. This is a significant figure that places Oman on par with actively developing jurisdictions in the mining sector. Since 2022, investments in mining infrastructure and data centers in the Salalah Free Zone have exceeded $700 million. Particularly noteworthy is the $370 million hydro-cooled facility — such solutions are becoming the standard for regions with hot climates.
Why this matters for the market
Oman's decision is not just an administrative measure, but a signal of a new approach to mining regulation in the Middle East. The state pool allows authorities to control hash rate distribution, monitor compliance with regulations, and, importantly, consolidate mining revenues. For miners, this means losing independence in choosing pools, but in return they gain guaranteed liquidity and transparent infrastructure.
In my view, this model could set a precedent for other Gulf countries, where mining is seen as part of economic diversification. However, centralization also carries risks: a reduction in Bitcoin network decentralization if large state pools begin to dominate — this is an issue the community should closely monitor.