Easing the ban on mining in a number of Russian regions

On 21 March 2025, Government Decree No. 341 of 21.03.2025 came into force: it is now possible to mine digital currency in regions where there is a ban on mining. Acsour experts reviewed the innovation and spoke about its key features.

In August 2024, the President signed a law that allows cryptocurrency mining to be legalised in Russia. Among other things, it gives regions the right to fully or partially ban mining on their territory.

Since November 1, 2024, mining has been legalised in Russia: the law opens up a wide range of opportunities for citizens. However, the legislative act specifies that regions have the right to fully or partially ban mining on their territory.

Regions actively use this right: for example, in Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, the Donetsk Republic, the Lugansk Republic, the Zaporozhye region and the Kherson region, a complete ban on mining was introduced, and in the Irkutsk Region, Buryatia and the Trans-Baikal Territory a ban was introduced in some territories.

These measures were taken to avoid power shortages: due to mining activities in Siberia, and especially in Irkutsk, there is a significant increase in energy consumption.

What happened. On March 21, a decree of the Russian Government was published, which eases restrictions on the extraction of cryptocurrencies in regions where mining is prohibited. According to the innovation, it is possible to extract cryptocurrency if the miner uses its own electricity. To do this, it is necessary to obtain confirmation that the mining devices do not take energy from the Unified Energy System of Russia.

To make a confirmation, you can contact:

• the organization for the management of the unified national — All- Russian — electric grid;
• a backbone territorial network organization;
• the system operator of Russian electric power systems.

Acsour experts recommend miners:

1. To clarify the rules of mining in a particular region.

2. Issue a confirmation of the energy source in order to avoid fines if mining takes place in one of the regions prohibited for mining.

3. Choose regions with mild regulation or partial prohibition for mining.

Acsour specialists will ensure the correct management of crypto projects in full compliance with the current legislation of Russia.