🇷🇺 Russia to enforce year-round #crypto mining ban in Buryatia & Zabaykalsky Krai from 2026 — authorities plan to expand current seasonal restrictions into a permanent prohibition starting next year.
🔌 Why: Russia cites electricity shortages and strain on local power grids as the main reason for expanding bans in these Siberian regions.
⚡️ This move is part of a wider trend — Russia has already banned mining in multiple other regions, with some prohibitions lasting until 2031 and seasonal restrictions in parts of Siberia.
📉 What it could lead to:
• 📉 Mining redistribution: Miners in banned regions may relocate to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions (e.g., North America, Middle East) — similar to how miners moved after China’s mining ban.
• 💸 Hashrate & network effects: If Russian miners exit the network, Bitcoin’s global hashrate could temporarily drop before rebalancing.
• 💡 Energy policy precedence: Russia’s actions highlight how energy infrastructure concerns are now shaping crypto regulation globally.
💡 Historical parallel: After China’s mining ban, global Bitcoin hash rate fell sharply, and BTC price experienced volatility (including a pullback) before stabilising once miners redistributed globally.
