Saed News: A cartoon hamster has taken over the virtual space, attracting many people to follow it. People, whether at home, work, on the subway, in bus queues, etc., are seriously tapping the belly of this hamster on their phones, hoping that this small creature will make them rich.
According to the legal service of Saed News, citing Hamshahri, you have probably heard of the game "Hamster Combat" and know that it is actually a Telegram-based cryptocurrency where users can earn virtual coins by participating. These coins are believed to potentially be convertible into real money, but their value won't be determined until the project is listed on exchanges. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether this game will reach a conclusion.
Since a few years ago, when Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies found their way among Iranian traders, until now, when the mining of these virtual coins has entered the realm of digital games, the main question for most people has been about the legality and permissibility of these transactions. Some believe that due to ambiguities in the structure of transactions and digital currencies, this practice is religiously problematic and not permissible, while others compare it to the stock market or other transactions and consider cryptocurrency trading permissible. As a result, various religious authorities have each expressed their views on this matter, with differing opinions, which are outlined below:
Ayatollah Khamenei
The Supreme Leader has not issued a fatwa on the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies to date but recommends adhering to the existing laws. He believes that following the country's official laws on this matter is obligatory: "The ruling on the production and buying and selling of cryptocurrencies is in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
In Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi's view, due to the many ambiguities surrounding cryptocurrencies, buying, selling, and trading them is problematic. Therefore, according to Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, it is not permissible to trade cryptocurrencies due to their numerous ambiguities: "Since Bitcoin has many uncertainties, such as an unclear origin of extraction and it is generally not recognized by governments, and has also been the source of many abuses, trading it is not permissible."
Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani
According to Ayatollah Golpaygani, digital currencies do not have ownership and therefore cannot be bought or sold. However, if a cryptocurrency is given to someone who is not a Muslim in exchange for money, there is no issue: "It is forbidden, and it is unlawful to consume money unjustly. And God knows best."
Ayatollah Sistani
Ayatollah Sistani does not consider the trading of cryptocurrencies permissible.
Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi
Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi has explicitly stated that, due to ambiguities surrounding these types of transactions, using this currency is not permissible.
Ayatollah Nouri Hamadani
Ayatollah Nouri Hamadani has clearly stated that engaging in these transactions is problematic.
Ayatollah Shabiri Zanjani
Ayatollah Zanjani has stated that if the money received is in exchange for lawful work and does not violate the law, it is not religiously problematic: "If the use of such currencies is illegal and generally has economic harm, buying and selling them is problematic."
Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani
Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani has also declared that any purchase or sale of cryptocurrencies is void.
According to the religious authorities, since cryptocurrencies lack a clear and solid backing, and if they involve money laundering or circumventing state sovereignty, endangering the economy, they are religiously problematic. One of the issues is the lack of responsibility in this market, and if individuals face problems or the value of these cryptocurrencies decreases due to the network's authorities, it is unclear what harms the buyers may suffer.
