Russia's Ministry Seeks to Halt Moscow Area Crypto Mining Until 2032

Russia's Ministry of Energy has drafted a decree to ban cryptocurrency mining in Moscow and parts of Kursk Oblast until 2032. The ban would take effect on July 1, 2026, and run through December 31, 2032.

Currently, there are at least 65 data centers in the Moscow region with a cumulative capacity of 734 MW, projected to balloon to 3.6 GW by 2032, representing roughly 17% of the maximum load. Moscow-area mining alone currently consumes an estimated 1 GW of electricity.

The ban is part of a broader pattern that accelerated since Russia legalized mining through Law No. 221-FZ in 2024. Mining bans have already been instituted across more than 13 regions of Russia, including both long-term and indefinite prohibitions in various territories.