News

Lebanese Crypto Miners Are Fighting For Survival

To mine cryptocurrencies, miners need two essential things: suitable mining hardware and the electricity necessary to power it.

Published

5 years ago

August 4, 2021

Joanna Melki

lebanese crypto miners are fighting for survival

Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency mining used to give many people in Lebanon hope that a life void of financial anxiety was within their reach. Now, this hope is quickly turning into disappointment amid the electricity shortage crisis in the country. To mine valuable cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, crypto miners need two essential things: suitable mining hardware and a reliable source of electricity necessary to power it.

The first requirement alone is difficult to meet these days because GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), which most smaller miners and many large-scale miners rely on, are either unavailable or ridiculously expensive — and not just in Lebanon.

The second requirement, however, is something that has been making many crypto miners in Lebanon rethink their strategy. “Before the electricity crisis, each GPU used to mine $10-$20 worth of Bitcoin every four hours,” said Alaa Ayash, the co-owner of a gaming-turned-mining lounge in Mar Elias, Beirut. “Now they mine about $1-$5, almost a quarter of what they used to.” he added.

In an effort to keep their mining rigs running 24×7, some miners have started producing their own electricity using diesel generators, but obtaining enough fuel without paying an arm and a leg for it is becoming difficult every day, that’s if it can be obtained at all.

“One gallon (20 liters) of diesel used to cost around 30,000 Lebanese pounds. Now it costs somewhere between 100,000 pounds and 150,000 pounds in the black market, if not more,” explained Ali Mortada, a Syrian janitor responsible for several large buildings.

Also Read: Bitcoin In Lebanon: Everything You Need To Know

Of course, diesel generators are the exact opposite of environmentally friendly. In fact, diesel engine exhaust is classified as carcinogenic to humans because it’s linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. Several countries in Europe and South America are currently looking into cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions to power their equipment in efforts to continue mining in an eco-friendly manner.

The only thing that could realistically help Lebanese crypto miners in the short term is a substantial increase of Bitcoin’s price, and alternative cryptocurrencies along with it, but the current bear market doesn’t make this seem like a realistic possibility.

News

Spotify Will Now Tell You If Your Favorite Artist Isn’t Real

The streaming platform is introducing an “AI Personas” label and cutting AI-generated artist profiles from its recommendations.

Published

4 days ago

August 12, 2026

Nour Nasir

Spotify

These days, the question of whether the artist you’re streaming actually exists is no longer hypothetical. Spotify intends to combat this issue by introducing a label called “AI Personas” for artist profiles that present an AI-generated, human-like identity rather than a real person. More consequentially, it will also keep those profiles out of its editorial and algorithmic recommendations by default.

From mid-September, listeners will start seeing an AI Persona badge on artist profiles, appearing in the banner and About section, in Search, and on track rows across playlists. Tapping the badge reveals whether the artist disclosed the AI identity themselves, or whether Spotify’s review team made the determination after examining the profile.

That distinction matters, because Spotify is not relying on self-disclosure alone. Artists can flag their own profiles as AI Personas through Spotify for Artists as of today, but the platform will also review profiles whose public identity – including name and imagery – appears to represent photorealistic AI-generated identities. The rollout begins with artists who have met defined audience thresholds, so the labels cover the vast majority of profiles listeners actually visit. Artists badged by Spotify’s reviewers will be notified and can self-disclose or appeal, and in the coming months listeners will be able to report suspected AI Personas themselves.

Also Read: Shokz OpenFit Pro Review: Open-Ear Audio Finally Grows Up

The company’s recommendations policy is also being tweaked. Music from AI Personas will not surface in a listener’s personalized recommendations unless, for example, they follow the artist. Spotify says all artists have a creative choice in how they present themselves, but its programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music.

The badge concerns identity, not production of the music itself. An artist who uses AI tools to make music is a separate question, one Spotify addresses through AI Credits and SongDNA. The AI Persona label sits alongside those features, plus Verified by Spotify and Artist Profile Protection, in what the company has made one of its top priorities this year: letting listeners trust that the artist behind the music is who they claim to be.