Authorities are once again discussing mining bans. This time, it concerns Moscow, Moscow Region, and part of the Kursk Region. And they want to introduce restrictions not just for a couple of months, but seriously and for a long time.
The government commission on electric power has already approved the idea. Deputy Minister of Energy Evgeny Grabchak said that the measures could be in effect until 2032.
The pressure mainly comes from the regions themselves. Local authorities complain that mining farms put too much strain on the networks. In the Moscow Region, attitudes toward cryptocurrency mining are getting worse. Officials say these farms bring almost no benefit to the economy, but the problems are growing.
Both Governor Andrey Vorobyov and Mayor Sergey Sobyanin have previously spoken out about overloads.
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According to the Ministry of Energy, there are currently at least 65 data centers operating in Moscow and the region. The total capacity is about 734 MW.
The situation is also acute in the Kursk Region . There, they want to ban mining in eight districts and in Lgov. Authorities explain that after the situation at the border, electricity problems have become more pronounced. If the farms are removed, the load will drop, and the freed-up capacity will go to residential areas and factories.
But that’s not all; “Kommersant” writes that a ban is being discussed for 19 regions at once — all those connected to the Moscow power system. If this is decided, mining will be suppressed in almost the entire Central Federal District, where the largest farms are located.
Ironically, mining was officially legalized in Russia only recently, in 2024. The bet was on cheap electricity and a cold climate. They thought they would profit and attract companies. But the opposite happened: so many farms sprang up that the power system started to crack at the seams. And it hit the regions with cheap electricity the hardest.
The first serious restrictions appeared last year. The ban was introduced in 13 regions, at least until spring 2031. The list includes: Irkutsk Region, Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai, almost the entire North Caucasus, as well as four Ukrainian regions that Russia currently controls.
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At the same time, the State Duma is pushing a bill on criminal liability for illegal mining. The document has passed its first reading. It concerns those who mine without registration or steal electricity bypassing meters.
Possible penalties: large fines, forced labor, and real prison terms. It all depends on how much the farm earned and what damage was caused to the networks. For large underground sites, fines of up to 2.5 million rubles.
If done by a group in collusion — up to five years in prison, plus additional fines and confiscation of equipment. But if the damage is fully compensated, criminal charges can be avoided.
Currently, mining in Russia is formally allowed for companies and sole proprietors. But you can only operate legally after registration and tax accounting.
The problem is that only a small part of the market has been legalized. The explanatory note to the bill states: out of about 50,000 mining companies, fewer than one and a half thousand have registered.
