Russian Energy Ministry Considers Banning Crypto Mining in Three More Regions

Russia’s Energy Ministry is weighing a ban on cryptocurrency mining in three more regions—northern Karelia, Penza Oblast, and parts of Khakassia—as surging power demand from miners strains local grids. A government commission is expected to finalize the decision by May, targeting operations that have overwhelmed aging infrastructure. The move reflects growing regulatory scrutiny of an industry that has flourished in energy-rich regions, often at the expense of grid stability. Authorities are increasingly drawing lines between mining hubs and residential needs, with electricity shortages forcing their hand. ’The grid wasn’t built for this,’ one official remarked privately, echoing concerns from Siberia to the Urals. This would mark the latest crackdown after restrictions in other power-strapped areas, signaling Moscow’s tightening grip on a sector once seen as a gray-market boon.