Russia's Buryatia Republic and Zabaykalsky Krai are set to lift temporary restrictions on cryptocurrency mining on March 15. According to ChainCatcher, these Siberian regions had imposed seasonal limits last year to address energy shortages during the autumn and winter months. However, reports indicate that the Moscow government plans to enforce a comprehensive five-year mining ban in these areas starting in 2026.

Currently, Russia has completely banned cryptocurrency mining in 10 regions, including southern Irkutsk Oblast and several Caucasus republics, with these prohibitions in place until March 2031. The evolving regulatory landscape poses challenges for Russian mining companies in terms of investment planning. Notably, BitRiver, Russia's largest mining company, is facing bankruptcy proceedings. Its founder, Igor Runets, was detained in January on tax evasion charges. The company's 100-megawatt mining data center project in Buryatia Republic has been completed but remains non-operational.