Oman centralizes mining: all licensed companies are required to operate through a national pool
A sovereign approach to cryptocurrency mining regulation is reaching a new level. The Sultanate of Oman has officially launched a national mining pool, which all licensed mining companies operating in the country are required to join.
The project is implemented under the auspices of Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in partnership with Frontier Technologies. Enegix Global acted as the key technology partner, providing the platform solution and liquidity infrastructure. Thus, the state gains full control over the distribution of hashrate and the flow of mined assets.
At the initial stage, the national pool is expected to accumulate approximately 10 EH/s of computing power. This is a significant figure for the region, considering that the total hashrate of the Bitcoin network at the time of launch exceeds 600 EH/s. However, for Oman, which aims to become a regional digital asset hub, this is only the first step.
Investment boom in the Salalah zone
Since 2022, total investments in mining infrastructure and data center construction in the Salalah Free Zone have exceeded the $700 million mark. The most notable project is a hydro-cooled mining facility, valued at $370 million. Such scale indicates the state's long-term strategy to attract capital to the sector, despite market volatility.
Analytical commentary: This initiative is a logical continuation of the global trend toward the sovereignization of mining. However, mandatory connection to a single pool carries risks of centralization and may reduce the jurisdiction's appeal for independent operators who value decentralization. The question is whether the state can offer competitive fees and transparent revenue distribution terms to avoid deterring major players.