In brief:
₿- Bitcoin mining operations are set to be relocated to northern regions as Russia aims to ease pressure on its national power grid.
₿- The southern mining ban, active until 2031, has already saved over 300 megawatts of electricity.
₿- Analysts say the ban mostly affects small miners, while large corporate operations continue in restricted areas.
Russia is preparing to shift its Bitcoin mining operations to the northern parts of the country. The move follows a recently enforced mining ban across several southern regions. It aims to stabilise the national energy grid and make use of outdated oil infrastructure by repurposing it for crypto mining.
Russia’s Ministry of Energy targets northern crypto mining hubs
The Ministry of Energy is actively discussing the relocation with mining companies, focusing on underused energy grid centres left over from depleted oil fields.
Deputy Energy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak said the government is looking at old power stations located across the north, northwest, and parts of the Volga region. These facilities could be offered to miners on a long-term basis.
Grabchak noted that if miners can prove their operations will benefit both the local economy and energy systems, the government will support their relocation. The plan is part of a broader strategy to regain control of Bitcoin mining in Russia while reducing the load on overstressed power grids.
Southern Russia mining ban impacts the industry
The shift follows a sweeping Bitcoin mining ban introduced in January 2025 across ten regions in southern Russia, including Dagestan, Chechnya, etc. The ban, which runs through 2031, was designed to prevent blackouts caused by rising crypto mining activity.
Officials claim the move has saved over 300 megawatts of electricity—enough to power a small city. However, critics argue the policy may hinder economic development in these already struggling areas.
Large mining firms unaffected, private miners squeezed out
While the ban appears strict, analysts say it primarily targets smaller, unlicensed miners. Denis Rusinovich of the Cryptocurrency Mining Group revealed that large-scale industrial mining operations still operate legally in the affected regions.
Western media reports have allegedly overstated the crackdown’s severity, according to Rusinovich, as corporate miners remain largely untouched. Meanwhile, the northern relocation initiative could help Russia maintain its status as a key global player in Bitcoin mining—without compromising its energy grid.
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Rodcas Consulting Group