British Columbia Moves to Ban New Crypto Mining Projects from Power Grid

British Columbia is set to permanently block new cryptocurrency mining operations from accessing its provincial power grid under proposed legislation. The Energy Statutes Amendment Act aims to prioritize electricity allocations for industries with higher economic returns and job creation potential, such as mining, natural gas, and low-emission LNG projects.

Energy Minister Adrian Dix framed the decision as a strategic reallocation of clean energy resources. "Our new framework ensures power flows to projects delivering the greatest benefit to British Columbians," he stated. The move follows global trends where jurisdictions have restricted crypto mining to prevent residential rate hikes caused by surging industrial demand.

While the ban targets future operations, it reflects growing regulatory scrutiny of energy-intensive proof-of-work cryptocurrencies. The legislation notably avoids singling out specific coins, instead creating blanket restrictions that WOULD impact all mining activities equally.