Russia bans crypto mining in Moscow area and part of Kursk until 2032

Russia has expanded cryptocurrency mining restrictions to Moscow, Moscow Region and parts of Kursk Region under Government Decree No. 936, which was signed on July 25, published on the official legal information portal on Aug. 1 and takes effect Aug. 15 through the end of 2032. The order bars both Bitcoin mining and participation in mining pools in the affected areas, formalizing an Energy Ministry proposal from late June that warned of power shortages if mining remained unrestricted year-round. The decree covers Moscow, all of Moscow Oblast, eight municipal districts of Kursk Oblast and the city of Lgov. Regional officials have said crypto mining consumes roughly one gigawatt of power on Moscow's grid, while combined data-center capacity in Moscow and Moscow Oblast could reach 3.6 GW by 2032, equal to about 17% of projected maximum load. That 3.6 GW figure refers to all data-center usage, not just mining. The move fits Russia's broader two-track approach: localized mining bans in energy-constrained regions alongside a national framework that allows registered companies and entrepreneurs to mine commercially. Russia also launched a national registry for mining equipment in July 2025 to track operators, monitor power usage and improve tax enforcement. The Moscow-region decree follows earlier regional restrictions introduced in late 2024 and comes as authorities continue to tighten oversight of the sector.