The Russian Ministry of Justice has proposed introducing criminal liability for illegal cryptocurrency mining. The draft introduces a new Article 171.6 to the Criminal Code titled "Illegal Digital Currency Mining and Activities of Mining Infrastructure Operators," targeting cases of mining without registration in the Federal Tax Service (FNS) registry.
Penalties under the new article will apply if mining causes significant damage to individuals, organizations, or the state, or generates substantial income. The draft specifies different liability measures depending on the income size and circumstances of the offense.
New Criminal Code Article for Illegal Mining
What the Ministry of Justice Proposes
The Ministry's initiative introduces separate liability for cryptocurrency mining and mining infrastructure operators, formalized as Article 171.6 of the Criminal Code. Sanctions are proposed for individuals mining without inclusion in the FNS special registry, provided significant damage or income has occurred.
Conditions for Applying Punishment
Liability is not for mining itself but for circumstances outlined in the draft: significant damage or substantial income from unregistered mining. The bill also includes qualification details—for example, stricter penalties for actions committed as part of a criminal group or causing especially large damage.
Types of Penalties for Illegal Mining
The draft outlines several penalty options depending on the severity of consequences and income amount. One level includes fines, mandatory community service, and forced labor; more severe cases involve larger fines and imprisonment.
- Fines up to 1.5 million rubles, mandatory community service up to 480 hours, or forced labor up to two years for causing significant damage or income from 3.5 million rubles.
- Stricter measures for actions as part of a criminal group or especially large damage: fines from 500 thousand to 2.5 million rubles, forced labor up to five years, or imprisonment up to five years with an additional fine.
- The draft provides exemption from criminal liability if the offender fully compensates the damage caused.
This differentiation means the penalty depends on damage or income amount and group involvement; qualification details are in the draft text. For an overview of related measures, see the collection on administrative and criminal liability for mining, which includes related cases and practical examples administrative and criminal liability.
Mining Regulation in Russia
The transition from legalization to criminal liability is described in the draft as the next regulatory stage. From November 1, 2024, mining is officially legalized, and from that date, the FNS opened special registries for participant and infrastructure owner registration.
According to the Tax Service, by the end of May 2025, over a thousand participants were registered in the registries, and all miners must report monthly on mined digital currency through personal accounts on the tax service website. Details on registration and reporting requirements are covered in the article about the new criminal liability criminal liability.
Reporting and Control over Miners
Registered participants must submit monthly reports via their FNS personal accounts, reflecting the volume of mined digital currency. Failure to comply or operating outside the registry—combined with significant damage or income—is a criterion for criminal liability.
Supervisory measures include transferring investigations of minor and medium severity cases to internal affairs investigators, with possible administrative and criminal consequences for violations. For practical advice on compliance, see the article on miners' obligations miners' obligations.
Why This Matters
If you mine in Russia, this change affects not only the legal status of your activity but also the risks of working unregistered: criminal liability applies if significant damage or income is involved. Legalization and FNS registries make the process official—unregistered operations now risk more serious consequences than before.
For small farm owners, this primarily concerns compliance: registration and regular reporting via the FNS personal account reduce liability risks. Attention to income volume and potential damage claims is also crucial, as these criteria determine criminal measures.
What to Do?
- Check if you are registered in the FNS registry; if not, register according to requirements.
- Submit monthly reports on mined digital currency via your personal FNS account to avoid formal claims.
- Assess income and risks: if income or potential damage may meet significant thresholds, consult a lawyer before scaling up operations.
- If claims arise, consider full compensation of damage—the draft provides exemption from criminal liability upon full reimbursement.
- Follow official clarifications from the Ministry of Justice and FNS and keep documents proving compliance with registration and reporting requirements.