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Moscow's Mining Ban Takes Effect: What Will Be the Consequences?

Mining has been banned in Moscow, the Moscow region, and parts of the Kursk region from August 15, with the prohibition set to last until December 31, 2032. The measure, requested by regional authorities, aims to prevent electricity shortages caused by energy-intensive mining equipment. This follows the legalization of cryptocurrency mining in Russia in November 2024, with restrictions now in place across 16 regions. Initially a blanket ban, an exception was introduced in March 2025 for miners using their own power generation, such as gas piston units or diesel generators, independent of the national grid. Major industry players had already begun shifting to on-site gas generation near gas fields to bypass grid limitations. While a trend emerged in 2025 to combine mining with AI computing infrastructure, this was complicated by authorities granting data centers (with a ban on mining inside them) preferential status as communication facilities. Experts state the new Moscow-area ban will significantly reshape Russia's mining geography but have a minimal global impact on Bitcoin's hash rate. The primary consequence will be a stronger industry shift to regions with energy surpluses, clear connection terms, and willingness to handle such loads. Moscow was already a contentious location due to high competition for power from data centers, industry, and urban infrastructure. For the Kursk region, the ban is also linked to infrastructure stability in border areas. The ban accelerates a market split. Large, legal operators will relocate equipment or seek sites with self-generation, while smaller or semi-legal miners operating in urban or industrial networks face higher costs and potential displacement into illegality. Industry participants note that post-2024 legalization had an unintended effect, with some major companies closing due to financial issues. Russian miners also face global pressures like low Bitcoin prices relative to mining costs, rising electricity prices, and the approaching 2028 halving, forcing some to shut down equipment.

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