Russia Expands Crypto Mining Ban to Moscow and Surrounding Areas

The government of Russia has expanded its ban on cryptocurrency mining activities to include Moscow and the Moscow region. The new decree, Resolution 936, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on July 25, amends the previous 'On the establishment of a ban on the mining of digital currency' decree issued in December 2024. This amendment includes the City of Moscow and the Moscow region in its scope.

The decision aims to alleviate severe local power grid strain caused by the operations of over 65 data centers running at a combined capacity of 734 MW. The ban will be effective from August 15, 2026, to December 31, 2032.

This move follows similar restrictions in other regions, such as Siberia, where previous bans have successfully eased grid load. In fact, the Ministry of Energy has praised the results of these policies, stating that their implementation in Siberia reduced the load on the Siberian power grid by more than 300 MW.