Russia’s crackdown on illicit cryptocurrency mining has intensified in recent months, driven by concerns over energy consumption and grid strain. The Russian government is implementing stricter measures to curb unauthorized mining operations and ensure sustainable energy use. These actions include banning unauthorized crypto mining activities and enforcing registration requirements for industrial miners under the Ministry of Finance’s oversight. 600,000 kWh of energy was being consumed monthly by these unregulated operations. Seizures of mining equipment underscore the significant scale of unregistered mining. This crackdown is likely to alter Russia’s crypto landscape, potentially shifting operators towards regions with more lenient regulations and impacting global hash rates as a result. The government aims for long-term stability in its crypto sector. Meanwhile, the Russian energy policy focuses on regulating crypto operations to maintain grid stability. This approach mirrors past practices where initial regulations were followed by stricter measures to address unintended consequences like energy shortages.