China’s Qinghai province has announced a new ban on virtual currency mining operations, a government document announced Wednesday. It follows other provinces, including Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia as part of a broader crackdown on the energy-intensive crypto sector in the country. The document was issued by Qinghai Industry and Information Technology Department, which is part of the provincial government. The local government cited the central government’s concerns about high energy-consuming industries and environmental pollution as well as the State Council’s directive to maintain financial stability by cracking ... (full story)