Russia’s Buryatia and Transbaikal to Lift Crypto Mining Ban This Month

Russian regions Buryatia and Transbaikal will resume cryptocurrency mining operations in March, marking a reversal of temporary restrictions imposed last November to address energy shortages. The seasonal ban, set to expire on March 15, had affected nearly all of Buryatia and significant portions of Transbaikal.

The MOVE comes amid growing uncertainty for Russia's mining industry, highlighted by recent financial troubles at Bitriver, one of the country's largest mining operators. While these regions reopen for mining, ten other Russian territories—spanning from the Far East to occupied Eastern Ukraine—maintain prohibitions on digital currency minting.

Energy concerns continue to shape policy, with southern Irkutsk Oblast maintaining a complete ban due to power deficits. The region shares an electrical grid with Buryatia and Transbaikal, underscoring the delicate balance between crypto's economic potential and infrastructure constraints.