Moscow joins Russia's cryptocurrency mining prohibition extending to 2032
The Russian government has extended its prohibition on cryptocurrency mining operations to include Moscow, the surrounding Moscow Region, and portions of the Kursk Region, attributing the decision to electrical grid capacity issues.
The Russian Federation has broadened its limitations on cryptocurrency mining operations to encompass Moscow, with the prohibition scheduled to commence on Aug. 15, 2026, and continue until Dec. 31, 2032.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed Russia's Resolution No. 936 on July 25, 2026, which modifies a previous mining restriction directive that was issued in December 2024, based on documentation made available on Pravo.ru.
The revised regulations include Moscow, the Moscow Region and multiple territories within Russia's Kursk Region among the designated restricted zones. This action broadens the scope of current limitations on cryptocurrency mining in regions experiencing electrical power supply challenges. Additionally, the prohibition encompasses eight municipal districts along with the city of Lgov located in Kursk Region.
Previous limitations were similarly implemented across multiple Russian regions, including sections of Buryatia and the Zabaykalsky Krai, where the cryptocurrency mining prohibition is scheduled to operate from April 1, 2026, until March 15, 2031.
According to TASS, the Moscow Region's Energy Ministry had previously indicated that implementing a mining prohibition was necessary due to increasing electricity consumption demands. The ministry's assessment revealed that Moscow and the Moscow Region currently have 65 data centers linked to the electrical power grid with a total combined capacity of 734 megawatts (MW), which includes 19 data centers situated in the Moscow Region accounting for 233 MW of capacity.