Mining Ban in Russia Reduces Energy Consumption by 300 MW

Restrictions on cryptocurrency mining in several Russian regions have led to an average reduction in energy consumption of 300 MW. This was reported by Kommersant, citing data from the Ministry of Energy.

The largest reduction—320 MW—occurred in Siberian regions: parts of the Irkutsk region, Buryatia, and the Trans-Baikal Territory. According to ministry representatives, the mining ban allowed the region to endure peak loads in January without imposing restrictions on consumers.

Acting Director General of the Irkutsk Electric Grid Company, Ilya Brilliantov, confirmed that during the autumn-winter period, 308 MW of capacity used by legal miners was freed up in parts of Priangarye.

“These capacities were not in demand during the specified period, and the end consumer did not notice any impact on electricity quality,” he added.

However, due to the seasonal ban, their company lost about 800 million rubles in necessary gross revenue from electricity transmission services.

In the North Caucasus regions, where cryptocurrency mining has been restricted since January, the load decreased by approximately 50 MW. Some activities there remain in a grey area, noted the Ministry of Energy.

Sergey Bezdelyov, Director of the Industrial Mining Association, believes that imposing bans in regions without considering market conditions does not yield the desired effect. Some participants go underground and continue to operate illegally when a ban is introduced. Moreover, relocating existing infrastructure is one and a half to two times more expensive than building new data centers, he pointed out.

The Russian authorities have imposed a ban on cryptocurrency mining and participation in pools in certain regions from January 1, 2025, to March 15, 2031.

On March 21, the Russian government permitted mining in these regions, provided that miners use their own electricity generation and have regulatory approval.

Since September 1, 2024, a law regulating cryptocurrency mining has come into effect in Russia. The country has also set an energy consumption limit for individual miners.

According to MTS EnergyTool, the number of mining farms in Russia increased by 7% in 2024, reaching 136,600. At the beginning of 2025, their total capacity exceeded 11 GW.