Mining in data centers: fines up to 2 million rubles and confiscation of equipment
Russian lawmakers have finally determined the penalty for illegal placement of mining equipment in data centers. The State Duma Committee on State Construction and Legislation approved a package of amendments for the second reading, introducing administrative fines for mining digital currencies on data center premises. The maximum penalty for legal entities will reach 2 million rubles.
This initiative, actively discussed as early as summer 2025, is taking clear shape. The state is consistently closing another popular method for crypto miners to place computing power. This applies not only to the direct installation of ASIC devices but also to indirect participation in mining pools through data center resources.
Essence of the Legislative Changes
The basic bill was submitted for consideration in January by a group of deputies led by the head of the Energy Committee, Nikolai Shulginov. As a result of the review, the Code of Administrative Offenses will be supplemented with a new article that details the punishment for illegal crypto mining.
The latest amendment is directly aimed against the use of commercial premises. Both the direct installation of specialized devices and indirect participation in mining pools through data center resources fall under the ban. This follows the regulators' previous logic: authorities seek to protect the stable operation of legal data centers from miners seeking industry preferences, including preferential technological connections and subsidized energy tariffs.
Amounts of Administrative Fines
The developed sanctions are strictly differentiated depending on the legal status of the violators. Detailed parameters of liability are presented in the table:
| Category of Violators | Monetary Fine | Additional Penalties |
| Individuals | From 100,000 to 150,000 rubles | Mandatory confiscation of equipment |
| Officials | From 300,000 to 800,000 rubles | Disqualification for a period of 1 to 2 years |
| Individual Entrepreneurs | From 300,000 to 800,000 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 |
As a result, the most stringent measures will affect large businesses. Companies will have to not only pay substantial sums but also face the real threat of a complete halt to all operational processes.
My analysis. This step is a logical continuation of the policy of regulating mining in Russia. The authorities are making it clear: using data center infrastructure created for legal business for covert cryptocurrency mining will be punished as harshly as possible. For miners who were looking for "gray" schemes for placement in data centers, this is a signal that the era of cheap and uncontrolled energy in such places is over. The market will inevitably transition to legal industrial sites, where all conditions are agreed upon with regulators.