Russia has expanded its cryptocurrency mining restrictions to include Moscow, the Moscow Region and parts of Kursk Region, citing concerns about power supply. The new measures take effect on Aug. 15, 2026, and will remain in force until Dec. 31, 2032.
The change is enacted under Resolution No. 936, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on July 25, 2026, which amends an earlier mining-restriction order issued in December 2024. The updated list adds Moscow, the surrounding Moscow Region and several territories in Kursk Region — including eight municipal districts and the city of Lgov — to areas where cryptocurrency mining is limited due to electricity capacity issues.
Previous restrictions have already been applied in other regions. For example, parts of Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai were subject to a mining ban scheduled from April 1, 2026, through March 15, 2031.
Officials from the Moscow Region Energy Ministry have pointed to growing electricity demand as the rationale for the tighter rules. The ministry has estimated that 65 data centers in Moscow and the Moscow Region are connected to the power grid with a combined capacity of about 734 megawatts (MW). Of those, 19 data centers are in the Moscow Region with roughly 233 MW of capacity.
Observers say the measures reflect a broader government effort to manage grid loads and prioritize electricity delivery for households and critical infrastructure amid rising demand from data centers and industrial users.
This report was prepared in line with independent editorial standards. Readers are encouraged to verify details with official publications and local authorities.
