Russia expands crypto mining ban to Moscow and Kursk through 2032

The Russian government has issued Resolution No. 936, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, to extend its regional cryptocurrency‑mining restrictions. The ban will take effect on 15 August 2026 and remain in force until 31 December 2032. It covers the city of Moscow, the Moscow Region and eight districts plus the city of Lgov in the Kursk Oblast. The measure is presented as a grid‑protection policy: authorities say mining operations in the capital area consume roughly one gigawatt of electricity, while the region’s data‑center capacity totals about 734 MW across 65 facilities. The ban also prohibits participation in mining pools from the affected territories and may be backed by criminal penalties under a pending State Duma bill. The restriction builds on earlier regional bans introduced in 2024 and 2026, expanding the list of prohibited zones to include the nation’s most power‑intensive economic hub.