Russia has announced sweeping restrictions on cryptocurrency mining operations across multiple regions, implementing a complete ban in 10 territories that will last until 2031. The new regulations will take effect from January 2025.
The ban primarily affects regions including Dagestan, Chechnya, and the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, where all crypto mining activities will be prohibited. The Russian government introduced these measures to maintain stable power supply for industrial needs.
Three additional regions - Irkutsk, Buryatia, and the Zabaikalsky region - will face temporary mining restrictions during peak energy consumption periods. These seasonal limitations will apply from January to March in 2025 and November to March in subsequent years.
The government commission overseeing electric power management retains authority to modify the list of restricted regions based on energy demands and grid stability requirements. This development follows Russia's November 2023 decision to legalize cryptocurrency mining under strict oversight. The current framework requires miners to register with the Federal Tax Service and provide detailed information about their assets and wallet addresses. Individual miners must operate within a monthly power consumption limit of 6,000 kWh.
The new regional restrictions reflect Russia's broader strategy to balance emerging cryptocurrency activities with industrial energy needs, placing priority on maintaining power grid stability while allowing regulated mining operations in permitted areas.