MOSCOW, Jan 21, 2026, 10:20 MSK
- Russian lawmakers have proposed a bill that would slap new administrative fines and authorize equipment seizures for illegal cryptocurrency mining.
- Repeat corporate offenders risk fines up to 10 million roubles and may face operational suspensions.
- The proposal focuses on mining activities in regions with government bans and seeks to strengthen reporting requirements to tax authorities.
Russian lawmakers introduced a bill proposing fines for illegal cryptocurrency mining and permitting the confiscation of mining gear, targeting an industry known to put pressure on local power supplies. (TACC)
The draft arrives amid Russia’s push to tighten regional bans and pull more miners under official regulation. Mining was legalized in 2024 with a registry system, yet from January 2025, authorities rolled out broad restrictions across several regions, including outright bans until March 2031 in some areas and seasonal curbs in others. (Ведомости)
Nikolai Shulginov, head of the State Duma’s energy committee and co-author of the bill, said current rules and low electricity tariffs allow commercial miners to disguise their operations as household consumption. He urged a swift review to address what he called harm to budgets and the energy grid. (Парламентская газета)
Interfax reported that a new article is set to be added to Russia’s administrative code, imposing fines for mining activities in government-prohibited regions, including involvement in mining pools. First-time offenders face fines ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 roubles for individuals, and 1 million to 2 million roubles for companies. Repeat violations would trigger even harsher penalties. (Interfax)
Kommersant reported that repeat violations could lead to fines reaching 10 million roubles for companies, alongside confiscation of mining equipment and, occasionally, administrative suspension of operations for up to 90 days. With the exchange rate near 78 roubles to the dollar, that maximum corporate penalty works out to around $128,000. (Коммерсантъ)
The draft also clamps down on miners surpassing government-set electricity limits. It proposes penalties for mining beyond the cap without registration and increases liability for failing to report breaches related to the movement of mined digital assets. (TACC)
Russian state media are spinning the move as a reaction to soaring power demand from data centres and crypto mining, flagging risks to grid stability and household electricity. Russian Gaseta quoted lawmakers highlighting outages, worse power quality, and increased fire hazards at overloaded facilities. (Российская газета)
Cryptocurrency mining involves using computing power to verify transactions on a blockchain, with miners earning digital coins as payment. Mining pools, meanwhile, pool together this computing power and share the rewards among members.
Crypto news outlet Bitcoin Sistemi highlighted Shulginov’s push for swift passage of the bill, noting that current regulations classify mining as a “domestic activity.” The report also cited financial markets committee chair Anatoliy Aksakov, who said the amendments would better distinguish legal mining from illegal operations. (Bitcoin Sistemi)
Yellow.com, quoting Aksakov, said lawmakers put the annual cost of illegal mining in Russia at over 10 billion roubles, plus billions lost in taxes. This figure is central to their push for clear penalties. (Yellow)
Enforcement, however, is far from certain. Lawmakers admit big operations often mask their activity under household-level electricity usage. Miners can also shift gear between regions as rules evolve. The bill itself could be altered during parliamentary debates, while the real impact hinges on how tough regulators and local officials get with monitoring power use and registration.
