Russia’s government has launched an ambitious national registry of cryptocurrency mining operations in a sweeping effort to rein in tax evasion and clamp down on unauthorized energy consumption.
According to a report Friday by state-owned newspaper RIA Novosti, the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Tax Service, and the Ministry of Digital Development have compiled and distributed the registry to regions identified as hotspots for mining activity.
Deputy Energy Minister Petr Konyushenko described the move as a necessary step toward bringing the largely underground mining industry into the legal and tax framework.
“The creation of such a register will allow for the precise identification of consumers using electricity for mining needs,” Konyushenko told RIA Novosti.
“This is necessary for applying special regulation and taxation to them.”
Despite the rollout of new mining regulations last year, officials say compliance has been inconsistent. Ivan Chebeskov, a senior figure at the Finance Ministry, recently disclosed that only about 30% of miners have registered with the Federal Tax Service since the laws took effect in late 2024.
Authorities have vowed to introduce additional measures to ensure the remaining 70% comply, framing the effort as essential for both tax collection and energy management.
Tighter Rules Aim to Protect Energy Grid
The crackdown arrives as Russia grapples with the strain that unregulated mining operations place on regional power supplies.
The Energy Ministry first signaled plans to create a nationwide mining equipment registry back in February, citing the need to track electricity consumption in areas where mining has been restricted or banned outright.
Under legislation passed last November, Russian authorities established formal definitions for crypto mining businesses and made registration mandatory. At the same time, the government imposed a sweeping ban on mining activities in 10 regions, including restrictions on both professional mining pools and small-scale individual operations.
According to the state-run TASS news agency, the six-year ban—effective through March 2031—is designed to prevent blackouts in regions where the power grid has struggled to cope with soaring demand.
Officials have said the registry will help enforce these regional prohibitions by making it easier to pinpoint unauthorized operators drawing excessive energy from the grid.
Penalties and Raids Escalate as Enforcement Ramps Up
In parallel to regulatory measures, Russian authorities are escalating enforcement action against illegal mining operations.
On June 14, police uncovered a clandestine mining farm hidden inside a truck, which had been illegally tapping power from a village in the Pribaikalsky region. Days later, law enforcement discovered another illegal mining setup operating out of a garage complex in the city of Bataysk.
The Ministry of Digital Development is also moving to increase financial penalties for offenders. According to a June 9 report from Forbes Russia, officials are drafting a bill that would raise the maximum fine for unauthorized mining operations to 2 million rubles (approximately $25,500), up sharply from the current ceiling of 200,000 rubles.
The proposed legislation is part of a broader strategy to curb widespread abuses and recover revenue lost to unregistered operations.
While Russia remains one of the world’s largest contributors to global crypto mining hash power, regulators are signaling that the days of laissez-faire oversight are coming to an end. Officials say the new framework will ultimately create a more stable environment for legitimate mining businesses while protecting regional energy infrastructure.
Quick Facts
- Russia has launched a national crypto mining registry to track energy usage and enforce tax compliance.
- A six-year mining ban is in place across 10 regions to prevent grid overload.
- Proposed legislation aims to raise fines for illegal mining operations to $25,500.
