The government commission on electric power development has decided to postpone for two months the issue of introducing a year-round ban on cryptocurrency mining in the districts of Transbaikalia and the Republic of Buryatia. The decision was made to conduct an additional assessment of lost revenues in the power grid sector and to prepare the regulatory framework for redistributing the freed-up capacity. This temporary pause gives authorities time to develop a mechanism for transferring the released capacity to socially significant consumers in energy-deficient regions.
Postponement of Year-Round Mining Ban in Transbaikalia and Buryatia
The commission delayed the review by two months to collect calculations on revenue losses for grid companies in the event of a potential mining ban. Additionally, it is necessary to prepare a regulatory framework that outlines how the capacity from mining loads will be redistributed in favor of other consumers. These measures aim to reduce administrative and technical risks during the transition to new restrictions.
Energy Situation in the Regions
Transbaikalia and Buryatia are connected within one energy zone with southern Irkutsk region, where a full year-round mining ban has already been introduced until 2031. This interconnection of power systems makes discussing similar measures in neighboring regions logical, as decisions in one zone affect the power balance in another. More details on developments in the neighboring region can be found in the article about the southern Irkutsk region.
Current Mining Restrictions in Russia
At the federal level, the government has banned mining from January 1, 2025, to March 15, 2031, in several regions due to projected electricity shortages. Ten regions are included in the list where a full mining ban applies during this period.
- Dagestan
- North Ossetia
- Ingushetia
- Chechnya
- Kabardino-Balkaria
- Karachay-Cherkessia
- LPR (Luhansk People's Republic)
- DPR (Donetsk People's Republic)
- Kherson region
- Zaporizhzhia region
Simultaneously, partial bans apply in certain parts of Buryatia and Transbaikalia during the autumn-winter period until 2031. Previously, the southern part of Irkutsk region had a seasonal regime, but it has since switched to year-round restrictions.
Why This Matters
For miners, the commission's decision means short-term uncertainty: there is no final ban yet, but discussions continue. If you operate in Transbaikalia or Buryatia, current partial restrictions remain in effect, and you should consider the risk of further tightening when planning capacity and equipment placement.
The postponement also shows that authorities are considering systemic effects on power grids and are trying to establish rules for capacity redistribution. This may affect the order of disconnections or prioritization of consumers in case of shortages, so it is important to monitor regulatory changes.
What to Do?
Act based on the current operating regime and prepare for various scenarios without relying on optimistic forecasts. Below are practical steps for miners with any number of devices, from one to a thousand.
- Check the status of your address: verify whether it falls under a full or partial ban zone, and keep documents confirming the equipment installation location.
- Prepare plans for possible restrictions: options include temporary shutdown, relocating part of the load to another site, or selling excess equipment.
- Follow official documents and commission announcements — the regulatory framework for capacity redistribution will be key to understanding how restrictions will be applied.
- Evaluate the economics of operation considering potential restrictions and costs of moving or storing equipment.
If you want details on the motives and timelines of bans specifically for Buryatia and Transbaikalia, there is a separate review covering causes and possible developments: year-round ban in Buryatia.