Crypto mining was banned in Moscow, the encompassing Moscow Area and elements of Kursk, with the restrictions set to run via Dec. 31, 2032.
The measure, established beneath authorities decree No. 936, additionally prohibits participation in crypto mining swimming pools. The decree was signed on July 25 and printed on July 31, native media reviews.
Russia as a complete accounted for an estimated 175 exahashes per second, or 16.4% of Bitcoin’s world computing energy, within the first quarter, in accordance with Luxor’s Hashrate Index. That positioned it second behind the U.S., though it’s unclear what capability was situated within the newly restricted area.
The nation’s Vitality Ministry stated a year-round restriction was wanted to scale back the danger of power-capacity shortages as energy-intensive mining services hook up with regional grids. Mining at the moment consumes roughly 1 gigawatt within the Moscow energy system, whereas the area’s data-center capability may attain 3.6 GW, or 17% of peak demand, by 2032, Interfax reported after the decree was first signed.
Mining can be linked to the nation’s Western sanctions.
Russian corporations had been utilizing domestically mined bitcoin in worldwide funds after authorized adjustments designed to counter Western restrictions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov stated in December 2024.