Bitcoin Mining: Hobbies or Professional Missteps?
In a twist that even the most seasoned office worker would find hard to believe, Vladimir Ilyayev, a city employee with NYC’s Department of Education, is facing consequences for using his work computer to mine Bitcoin. Yes, you heard that right—mining Bitcoin during duty hours while surrounded by educational materials. Who knew education and cryptocurrency were intertwined in this unusual way?
Conflicts of Interest Board Takes Action
According to public records, the Conflicts of Interest Board didn’t take this situation lightly. Ilyayev has candidly admitted to the digital mischief, revealing he ran mining software from 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. every night over a period from March 19 to April 17, 2014. The software didn’t quit working on its own; it faced a shutdown at the hands of the Department of Education’s Division of Instructional and Information Technology. Talk about your computer being disciplined!
The Punishment: Losing Paid Time
After a thorough investigation, the board decided to teach Ilyayev a lesson about mixing personal finance with public service. He was handed down a penalty, resulting in the forfeiture of four days of paid annual leave, equal to a staggering $611. I’m not sure what’s worse—the idea of mining Bitcoin on city time or losing paid leave because of it. That’s one expensive piece of Bitcoin!
Understanding Bitcoin Mining
Now, for those of you who may not be steeped in tech jargon, Bitcoin mining is the high-energy process where computers solve complicated mathematical problems to validate transactions on the blockchain, and in doing so, generate new Bitcoin tokens. In layman’s terms, it’s not just a hobby; it’s a consumption monster that can work your computer tirelessly—in this case, while Ilyayev should have been focusing on the educational needs of New York’s children instead.
History of Bitcoin Misadventures in NYC
Interestingly, Ilyayev isn’t the first government employee to dabble in the digital currency during work hours. Back in early 2015, another network engineer in the same department found himself under the scrutiny of the Conflicts of Interest Board for trying to run mining software on his work computer. Thankfully for him, he managed to dodge repercussions due to a sheer lack of evidence proving he was successful in mining any Bitcoin. I guess sometimes it really is better to be lucky than good!
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