Russia Widens Crypto Mining Ban to Moscow Through 2032
Russia has extended its ban on cryptocurrency mining to Moscow and nearby areas through 2032. The government resolution, effective August 15, 2026, updates an earlier restriction order from December 2024.
The new restrictions cover Moscow, the Moscow Region, and parts of Russia's Kursk Region, including eight municipal districts and the city of Lgov. The ban is aimed at limiting cryptocurrency mining in areas facing strain on electricity supply due to growing data-center loads.
The energy ministry estimated that Moscow and the Moscow Region have 65 data centers connected to the power grid, with a combined capacity of 734 megawatts (MW). The logic used by officials is tied to the overall electricity system, particularly the growing load from digital infrastructure.
This latest expansion builds on restrictions introduced earlier in other parts of Russia. The government is layering in additional territories and sustaining multi-year prohibitions, which tends to shift mining activity away from restricted power grids and toward jurisdictions not covered by the latest legal orders.