Mining in data centers: fines up to 2 million rubles and confiscation — a new blow to "gray" miners
Russian lawmakers are finalizing the legal framework to combat illegal mining. The State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation has approved for the second reading a package of amendments introducing administrative liability for placing mining equipment and mining digital currencies in data processing centers (DPCs). The maximum fine for legal entities reaches 2 million rubles.
Essence of the legislative changes
The initiative, introduced by a group of deputies led by the head of the energy committee Nikolai Shulginov, is finally taking clear shape. The Code of Administrative Offenses will be supplemented with a new article that details penalties for illegal cryptocurrency mining. The main blow is aimed at the use of commercial DPC platforms. Both the direct installation of ASIC devices and indirect participation in mining pools through data center resources are prohibited. This is a logical continuation of the regulators' course: authorities seek to protect the stable operation of legal data centers from miners claiming industry preferences, including preferential technological connection and subsidized energy tariffs.
Amounts of administrative fines
The developed sanctions are strictly differentiated depending on the violator's status. Detailed parameters of liability are presented in the table:
| Category of violators | Monetary fine | Additional penalties |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals | From 100 thousand to 150 thousand rubles | Mandatory confiscation of equipment |
| Officials | From 300 thousand to 800 thousand rubles | Disqualification for a period of 1 to 2 years |
| Individual entrepreneurs | From 300 thousand to 800 thousand rubles | Suspension of activities for up to 90 days |
| Legal entities | From 1 million to 2 million rubles | Suspension of activities for up to 90 days |
The most stringent measures will affect large businesses. Companies will not only have to pay substantial sums but also face a real threat of a complete halt to all operational processes.
Cryptalist Analytics: This step is not just a tightening, but a strategic turning point. The state is effectively closing the loophole that allowed miners to masquerade as "cloud" or IT services. I expect that in the next six months, we will see a significant portion of "gray" hash rate leaving Russian DPCs, either to private households or abroad. For bona fide market participants, this means an increase in the cost of legal hosting and consolidation of the industry around large, transparent operators.