GitLab makes card binding mandatory to combat mining

The IT-project hosting service GitLab made it mandatory for new users to provide bank card details to gain free access to its tools. The move was taken because of numerous abuses by cryptocurrency miners.

Without attaching a card, users will not have access to 400 free minutes of CI/CD pipeline execution and the shared runners on GitLab.com.

GitLab said that mining-related abuses are causing performance problems, driving up service costs, and forcing the engineering team to work around the clock to keep the portal functioning.

The changes do not affect current users and customers of the service. However, if abuses via existing free accounts continue, GitLab reserves the right to restrict their access to the software.

In April 2021, the GitHub hosting service began an investigation into a series of attacks on its cloud infrastructure. Since autumn 2020, unknown actors have been using the company’s servers to mine cryptocurrency.

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