The Ministry of Energy is preparing a ban on mining in Moscow and the Moscow region until 2032: details and context
The Russian cryptocurrency mining market is on the verge of significant regulatory changes. The Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation has announced the imminent release of a government decree that will impose a complete ban on digital currency mining in Moscow, the Moscow Region, and certain areas of the Kursk Region. The restrictions are expected to be in effect until December 31, 2032.
Details of the Upcoming Ban
According to information shared by Andrey Maksimov, Director of the Department for Electric Power Development, the draft document has already been prepared and submitted to the government. He stated that the decision has been made, and the ministry has not received any additional requests from regions to introduce new restrictions. This indicates that the initiative comes from the federal center, based on an analysis of energy consumption.
The draft decree itself was developed by the Ministry of Energy back in late June. It provides for a ban on mining activities in the capital, the region, and a number of districts in the Kursk Region. Interestingly, the relevant government commission for electric power development had previously recommended introducing such restrictions. Deputy Minister of Energy Evgeny Grabchak confirmed this recommendation as early as May.
The reason for the tightening is the colossal strain on the energy system. According to estimates from the regional Ministry of Energy, 65 data centers with a total capacity of 734 MW are connected in Moscow and the region. Of these, 19 data centers with a capacity of 233 MW are located directly in the Moscow Region. This poses a serious challenge for power grids, especially during peak hours.
Where Mining Is Already Banned
It is important to understand that this is not the first instance of mining restrictions in Russia. Since January 1, 2025, the government has imposed a ban on cryptocurrency mining in a number of regions, which will be in effect until March 15, 2031. This list includes Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, as well as the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
Eastern Siberia is a separate case. Since March 20, the government has introduced a year-round ban in Buryatia and the Trans-Baikal Territory from April 1, 2026, to March 15, 2031. And since April 7, 2025, a complete ban has been extended to the south of the Irkutsk Region. Previously, mining in these regions was only restricted during peak energy consumption periods — from January 1 to March 15.
The new decree continues this logic: moving energy-intensive data centers out of deficit and most heavily loaded territories. Moscow and the region are the heart of the energy system, and the authorities clearly want to relieve it for the needs of the population and businesses.
My analysis: This is a consistent step within the strategy to combat energy shortages. Miners operating in the capital region should prepare for relocation. Given the capacity of 734 MW, this could trigger a flow of capital to more favorable regions, such as Siberia or the Far East, where energy is cheaper and restrictions are not yet as strict. The market is facing a restructuring.