Company was not allowed to fire employee for mining bitcoins

A system administrator who has mined bitcoins at work could not be fired for this.

A lighter sanction or an end to the employment in another way would have been sufficient, according to a judgment of the subdistrict court in Amersfoort that was published on Wednesday.

In computing, computing power is used to solve cryptographic puzzles. If this succeeds, a number of bitcoins will be released.

The employee in question had installed a computer at work to reduce the virtual currency. According to his employer, he thereby violated the rules on extra earnings outside the company. Just like rules about using the internet at work.

According to the judge, immediate dismissal, "because of the deeply drastic financial consequences", must be the last resort.

"The nature and seriousness of the conduct is not such that, partly in view of the way in which the employee has fulfilled the employment for years, the sanction of immediate dismissal was justified."

The court emphasizes that the employee has acted culpably, but that it is not serious fault. The man therefore gets a transition allowance.