British Columbia to Permanently Ban New Crypto Mining Power Connections
British Columbia solidifies its permanent ban on new cryptocurrency mining power connections, focusing on allocating electricity for AI and data centers amidst rising electricity demand.
The statement is directly confirmed by a primary source, a BC Government news release (Evidence 8), which explicitly states the introduction of 'new legislation' to 'permanently ban new BC Hydro connections to the electricity grid for cryptocurrency mining.' This is corroborated by multiple recent news reports (Evidence 1, 4, 6). The other evidence provides context, showing this permanent ban follows a temporary suspension that began in December 2022.
On October 21, 2025, British Columbia’s government introduced legislation to make its 2022 freeze on new cryptocurrency mining power connections permanent. The law aims to prioritize electricity for AI and data centers, with a competitive allocation process starting in 2026. The new regulations also seek to manage electricity demand and ensure sustainable energy use.
- Crypto Mining: The process of validating cryptocurrency transactions and securing a blockchain network by solving computational problems, typically consuming significant electricity.
- Grid Access: The ability for electricity consumers, such as industrial facilities or data centers, to connect to and draw power from the electrical grid.
- MW (Megawatt): A unit of power equal to one million watts, commonly used to measure large-scale electricity consumption or generation capacity.