Crypto▼ Bearish
Russia Bans Crypto Mining in Moscow and Kursk Until 2032
Russia banned mining in Moscow and Kursk. Decree No. 936 takes effect Aug. 15. Operators face relocation costs. BitRiver founder Runets was detained on fraud charges.
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Russia banned crypto mining in the Moscow region and Kursk. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed Decree No. 936 on July 25. The restrictions take effect August 15, 2026, and run until December 31, 2032. The ban covers two of the country's most strategic regions for six and a half years.
The government cited power grid strain. Mining electricity use in the Moscow region passed one gigawatt. The Ministry of Energy raised the alarm in April 2026. Officials said the load on local infrastructure was excessive and the economic benefits too low to justify the pressure on the grid.
Operators have three weeks between the decree and enforcement. Moving rigs to Siberia or other regions carries steep costs for transport and grid connections. Large firms can manage the shift. For smaller outfits, the expense likely makes relocation unviable.
The ban covers more than physical machines. Simply contributing hash to a mining pool from the affected regions is also prohibited under the decree.