Russia Expands Crypto Mining Ban to Moscow and Kursk Regions

Russia's crypto mining ban is expanding across Moscow and Kursk areas. The ban will cover Moscow, the Moscow region, and eight districts in the Kursk region from August 15, 2026, to December 31, 2032.

The decision is linked to electricity capacity risks created by energy-intensive operations. Moscow hosts 65 data centers with 734 megawatts of combined capacity, while mining demand is estimated near one gigawatt. The total data center capacity in the capital region is expected to reach 3.6 gigawatts by 2032.

The ban targets mining activity rather than ordinary cryptocurrency ownership and covers operators joining mining pools from prohibited locations. Russian rules already require corporate miners and registered entrepreneurs to enter a federal tax register, while individuals may mine without registration only within a monthly electricity limit of 6,000 kilowatt-hours.