Russia bans crypto mining in Moscow and Kursk Region until 2032

Russia’s Ministry of Energy just dropped a draft decree that would ban cryptocurrency mining in Moscow, Moscow Oblast, and parts of Kursk Oblast for more than six years. The ban would take effect July 1, 2026, and run through December 31, 2032. The numbers behind the ban At least 65 data centers in the Moscow region currently have a cumulative capacity of 734 MW. That number is projected to balloon to 3.6 GW, which would represent roughly 17% of the maximum load by 2032. Moscow-area mining alone currently consumes an estimated 1 GW of electricity. Nationally, data centers in Russia are projected to reach a total capacity of 15.3 GW within five years. The draft decree was published on June 26, 2026, following a review by a government electricity commission conducted in May. Officials concluded that mining’s economic contribution does not justify its energy footprint. War, power shortages, and regional politics Governor Alexander Khinshtein pointed to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a major factor in Kursk Oblast’s growing power crisis. The ban in Kursk specifically targets eight districts along with Lgov city. This latest restriction is part of a broader pattern that accelerated ...