Moscow, January 21, 2026, 10:21 (MSK)
- Russian lawmakers introduced a bill proposing fines for illegal cryptocurrency mining and the seizure of equipment, with penalties for repeat corporate offenders climbing to 10 million rubles.
- The draft focuses on mining activities in areas where governments have imposed bans, enforcing penalties linked to registration and reporting requirements.
- The proposal arrives as Russia works to bring crypto activity under regulation amid ongoing pressure on its power grids.
Russian lawmakers have put forward a bill proposing fresh administrative penalties for violations of the country’s cryptocurrency mining regulations. The draft includes fines reaching 10 million roubles for companies caught repeating offences, along with the potential seizure of mining hardware. (Interfax)
The draft arrives amid Russia’s crackdown on a sector boosted by low-cost electricity, following government bans on mining in multiple regions due to reported power shortages and strain on the grid. (Ведомости)
Lawmakers warned in an explanatory note that illegal miners’ excessive electricity consumption endangers the power system’s reliability. According to CNews, the bill has been submitted to parliament, backed by a favorable government review. (Cnews)
The bill would classify breaches related to registration and energy-use limits as distinct violations, BitcoinSistemi reports. Nikolai Shulginov, head of the energy committee, pointed out that low electricity tariffs and current regulations allow mining to be disguised as a “domestic activity.” Meanwhile, Anatoly Aksakov, who leads the financial markets committee, warned the rules would create a divide between “legal” and “illegal” mining once enforced.
Yellow.com reported that Aksakov estimates the annual economic damage from illegal mining exceeds 10 billion roubles, with 9 billion roubles lost in unpaid taxes. Shulginov warned that low tariffs keep mining profitable but increase risks to the energy grid. Aksakov also forecasted that as enforcement steps up, illegal mining will split into “grey” and “black” segments. (Yellow)
Vbr.ru, a Russian personal-finance website, reported that lawmakers claim the budget misses out on as much as 9 billion roubles annually due to unpaid taxes from illegal mining. The site also pointed out that penalties have typically hinged on proving electricity theft rather than direct mining violations. (Выберу.ру)
The crackdown comes as officials also move to integrate crypto regulations beyond just mining. Anatoly Aksakov mentioned earlier this month that a bill is prepared to strip cryptocurrencies of their “special” financial status, aiming to fold them into regular economic activity. The proposal is slated for debate during the spring session. (Phemex)
Other major mining markets face a similar challenge: energy-intensive computing that’s both portable and tough to detect at the user end. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, tracking mining demand is complicated because these operations blend in with millions of users and can swiftly move to areas with cheaper power. (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
But how much the bill actually hits will hinge on enforcement and how fast officials can spot miners hiding behind household meters, working in banned areas, or using middlemen. The draft is still up for debate in parliament, and miners often outpace regulators by switching tactics and locations swiftly.
If passed, the proposal would change Russia’s administrative offences rules related to digital financial assets and digital currency. It targets both miners and the operators running mining infrastructure. The reports didn’t provide any timeline for when the State Duma might hold readings on the measure.
