(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Bitcoin Becomes More Popular in Iran
Iranians are increasingly turning to digital currency, such as Bitcoin, to make money. The situation is creating alarm in and out of the country.
In Iran, some government officials worry that Bitcoin "mining" is abusing Iran's system of government-supported electricity.
In the United States, some observers warn that digital currencies could be used to go around economic restrictions targeting Iran.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is like money, but it is different than the paper money printed by governments around the world. Central banks do not control it. Instead, bitcoin and digital currencies like it trade globally in high-risk markets.
The markets depend on computers around the world to "mine" the data. In other words, the computers use highly complex mathematics to approve exchanges.
But the computers are not only costly; they also require a lot of electricity to work. In Iran, "miners" are in a good position because the government helps pay for electricity. "Miners" in Iran also buy less-costly Chinese ready-made computers.
Those contacted by The Associated Press news agency refused to speak about their work or to say how much they earn from their "mining." But the "miners" admit they do it to make some money at a time when the value of Iran's currency, the rial, has fallen. Since 2015, the rial has dropped from 32,000 rials to $1, to around 120,000 rials to $1 now.
Unclear laws
Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi is Iran's minister for information and communications technology. He says, "The business of ‘mining' is not forbidden in law." However, he notes that the government and Central Bank have banned the import of mining machines until new regulations are introduced.
Ali Bakhshi is the head of the Iran Electrical Industry Syndicate. He said earlier this month that the country's Energy Ministry would likely increase costs for Bitcoin "miners" to 7 cents for each kilowatt of electricity they use. The current price is about a half-cent.
Still, there are concerns, especially among Iran's religious leaders, that people might try to avoid paying extra for the electricity. Using digital currency to hide or move money illegally is another concern.
Bitcoin and sanctions
U.S. officials have also been keeping a close watch on Iranians holding bitcoins. In November, a court in Newark, New Jersey accused two Iranian men of hacking and holding hostage computer systems in order to get payment in bitcoins.
Sigal Mandelker is the U.S. Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Mandelker said Iran is becoming increasingly isolated and desperate for access to U.S. dollars. As a result, she said, digital currency services need to protect themselves against illegal activity.
Jahromi, Iran's minister for information and communications technology, did not seem to think such steps were necessary.
He said digital currencies were effective in getting around economic restrictions for small purchases or exchanges. But, he said, he did not think they could be used for big things.
"We cannot use them to go around" international money systems, he said.
I'm John Russell.
重点解析
1.make money 赚钱
I think every business's goal is to make money.
我认为各家公司的目的都是赚钱。
2.paper money 纸币
The disadvantages of coin and paper money are obvious.
硬币和纸币的不便之处是显而易见的。
3.get around 逃避；说服
None of these countries has found a way yet to get around the problem of the polarization of wealth.
这些国家都还没有找到办法来解决贫富分化的问题。
4.access to 接近
We mustn't allow such a person access to confidential matters of the state.
不能让这样的人与闻国家机密。
5.In the United States, some observers warn that digital currencies could be used to go around economic restrictions targeting Iran.
go around 四处走动
I had got in the habit of going around with bare feet.
我已经习惯光脚。
There's a nasty sort of rumour going around about it.
关于这件事正有一则恶意的谣言在流传。
6.As a result, she said, digital currency services need to protect themselves against illegal activity.
As a result 结果
As a result, the bad thing has been turned into a good one.
结果坏事变成了好事。
As a result, industry was overmanned and pen-pushers were everywhere.
结果是，企业人浮于事，到处都是耍笔杆子的人。
参考译文
伊朗采用比特币绕过制裁
越来越多的伊朗人转向比特币等数字货币来赚钱。这种状况开始在伊朗国内外引发了恐慌。
伊朗一些政府官员担心，比特币“挖矿”正在滥用政府补贴的电力系统。
美国一些观察人士警告称，数字货币可能是用来绕过针对伊朗的经济制裁。
什么是比特币？
比特币类似于货币，但是跟世界各国政府发行的纸币不同。比特币不受中央银行管控。相反，比特币等数字货币在全球高风险市场交易。
该市场依赖于世界各地的计算机来“挖掘”数据。换句话说，计算机利用高度复杂的计算来批准交易。
但是这些计算机不但价格昂贵，还需要耗费大量电力。伊朗的“挖矿者”处于有利地位，因为政府会补贴电费。伊朗“挖矿者”还购买了更便宜的中国成品电脑。
美联社接触到的挖矿者拒绝透露他们的工作内容以及“挖矿”的获益。但是“挖矿者”承认，在伊朗货币（里亚尔）贬值的当下，他们此举是为了赚钱。自2015年以来，里亚尔已经从3.2万里亚尔兑1美元，贬值到现在大约12万里亚尔兑换1美元。
法律漏洞
穆罕默德·贾瓦德·阿扎利·扎赫若米是伊朗信息与通信技术部长。他说：“法律并没有禁止‘采矿’。”但是他指出，伊朗政府和中央银行已经在新规定出台禁止进口矿机。
阿里·巴克谢西是伊朗电气工业联合会的会长。本月初，他表示，伊朗能源部可能会将比特币“挖矿者”电价上调至7美分每千瓦。当前电价为0.5美分每千瓦。
然而呢，还是有人担心人们可能会试图逃避支付额外的电费，尤其是该国的宗教领袖。使用数字货币非法隐匿或转移资金也是一项隐患。
比特币和制裁
美国官员也一直密切关注持有比特币的伊朗人。去年11月，新泽西纽瓦克市一家法院指控两名伊朗男子入侵并劫持计算机系统来勒索比特币。
西格尔·曼德尔科是美国财政部负责恐怖主义和金融情报的副部长。曼德尔科表示，伊朗越来越孤立，迫切希望获得美元。她说，因此数字货币服务商需要保护自己免受非法活动的侵害。
伊朗信息与通信技术部部长扎赫若米似乎不认为有必要采取这些措施。
他说，数字货币可以有效绕过对小额买卖和交易的经济制裁。但是他说，他认为数字货币在大型交易方面收效甚微。
他说：“我们没法利用数字货币绕过国际货币体系。”
约翰·罗塞尔为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
