Key Takeaways
- Russia banned crypto mining in Moscow and the Moscow region from August 15, 2026, to December 31, 2032.
- The ban addresses severe local power grid strain, targeting 65 data centers running on a 734 MW capacity.
- This follows similar restrictions in regions like Siberia, where previous bans successfully eased grid load.
Russia Expands Cryptocurrency Ban Decree Reach, Includes Moscow and Moscow Region
The Government of Russia has established new restrictions for cryptocurrency mining in Moscow, tightening its control over the companies that manage these operations.
Resolution 936, signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on July 25, amends the “On the establishment of a ban on the mining of digital currency (including participation in a mining pool) in certain constituent entities of the Russian Federation” decree, issued in December 2024, to include the City of Moscow and the Moscow region in its scope.
The municipal districts of Belovsky, Bolshesoldatsky, Glushkovsky, Korenevsky, Lgovsky, Rylsky, Sudzhansky, Khomutovsky, and the urban district of the city of Lgov in the Kursk region are also included in this amendment.
The action comes after the government commission for the development of the electric power industry recommended such a ban in these regions due to the strain that mining operations exert on the local power grid. Over 65 data centers operate in Moscow and the Moscow region, with a capacity of 734 MW.
The ban will be effective from August 15 to December 31, 2032, and follows similar measures affecting other regions facing energy shortages during specific periods.
In December 2024, a similar ban was enacted on Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporizhzhia and the Kherson region.
At that time, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stressed that, while these activities were relevant, more restrictions would be issued “to ensure the connection of social facilities and enterprises under construction first.”
The Ministry of Energy praised the results of these policies in Siberia, explaining that their implementation had reduced the load on the Siberian power grid by more than 300 MW, avoiding restrictions for citizens.
