Russia Cracks Down on Crypto Mining in Moscow, Expands Power-Hungry Ban

Russia has expanded its cryptocurrency mining restrictions to Moscow and surrounding areas, citing concerns over power supply. The ban is set to take effect on August 15, 2026, and remain in place through December 31, 2032.

The updated rules add Moscow, the Moscow Region, and several territories in Russia's Kursk Region to the list of restricted areas. This measure expands existing restrictions on cryptocurrency mining in regions facing electricity supply concerns.

Russia introduced earlier restrictions in several regions, including parts of Buryatia and the Zabaykalsky Krai, where a mining ban is set to run from April 1, 2026, through March 15, 2031. The Moscow Region's Energy Ministry previously estimated that Moscow and the Moscow Region have 65 data centers connected to the power grid with a combined capacity of 734 megawatts (MW), including 19 data centers in the Moscow Region with 233 MW of capacity.