Russia drafts crypto mining ban in parts of Moscow and Kursk through 2032

The Energy Ministry’s proposal would halt mining in selected areas from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2032, as authorities highlight the concentration of data-center capacity in Moscow and the surrounding region.

Summary

Russia’s Energy Ministry has prepared a government resolution that would ban cryptocurrency mining in parts of Moscow, the Moscow region, and the Kursk region from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2032. TASS reported that Moscow city and the Moscow region currently host 65 data centers with combined capacity of 734 megawatts, including 19 in the Moscow region with 233 megawatts. The proposal would also apply to multiple municipal districts and towns in Kursk. The move would extend Russia’s broader effort to curb mining activity in areas facing power-system pressure, following earlier long-term mining bans and expanded electricity restrictions introduced in other regions from 2025.

Terms & Concepts
  • cryptocurrency mining: Using computing power to validate transactions and, in some networks, create new coins.
  • data centers: Facilities that house large numbers of servers and related power infrastructure.
  • megawatts: A unit of electrical capacity used to measure large-scale power demand or supply.