Russia has extended its cryptocurrency mining restrictions to include Moscow, with the ban scheduled to begin on August 15, 2026, and remain in place until December 31, 2032. The move, formalised in Resolution No. 936 signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on July 25, 2026, adds the Moscow Region and parts of the Kursk region to existing restrictions. The expansion follows concerns over rising electricity demand, with the Moscow Region’s Energy Ministry citing the strain caused by data centres linked to cryptocurrency mining operations.
The updated restrictions apply to the Moscow Region, the city of Lgov, and eight municipal districts in Kursk, joining areas in Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai that have faced similar limitations since April 2026. These measures are part of a broader effort to manage energy consumption, as the Moscow Region alone hosts 19 data centres with a combined capacity of 233 megawatts. The national network of data centres connected to the power grid in Moscow and the region totals 734 megawatts.
Earlier restrictions in Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai are set to expire on March 15, 2031, while the expanded ban in Moscow and related regions will end on December 31, 2032. The Moscow Region’s Energy Ministry has not provided further details on potential alternatives for cryptocurrency miners operating in restricted areas. The government has not indicated plans to revisit the policy before its scheduled conclusion.
Written by James Tobias
Bitcoin Desk
