The Russian Energy Ministry is seeking the authority to disconnect cryptocurrency miners from energy grids as Bitcoin miners continue to increase their capacity. Reports indicate that Russian entities mined approximately $3.5 billion worth of Bitcoin last year.
Yevgeny Grabchak, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Energy, stated that power providers should have the ability to disconnect miners from the power supply at any time. Despite this, he reiterated previous statements from the ministry about offering miners surplus power when available, noting they represent a new category of consumers who could benefit from free capacity on grids during low demand periods.
Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev suggested at a recent meeting with President Vladimir Putin that crypto miners should consider relocating to areas without energy shortages. Grabchak mentioned the possibility for the industry to choose self-limiting power usage or implement automatic IT solutions for disconnection.
Earlier this year, President Putin endorsed the industrial crypto mining sector, leading to the legalization of crypto mining. However, he emphasized the need to prevent power grid disruptions, a concern highlighted by previous issues in Abkhazia and Kazakhstan.
Mining regions like Irkutsk, Buryatia, and Transbaikal, which are traditional hotspots, have faced power-related challenges, prompting a crackdown on illegal mining activities. It’s estimated that a significant portion of Russian crypto miners operate in these areas, consuming substantial power.
Recently, miners seem to be considering moving away from Southern Russia and Siberia. In Perm, developers have completed a 440sqm mining facility on a former fur farm, and Gazprom is building a 500-rig mining farm in Veliky Novgorod. Additionally, Komi’s governor announced plans to construct 15 new crypto mining data centers in collaboration with private-sector miners.
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