Russia’s Energy Ministry Refines Mining Definition: Closing Loopholes

The Russian Ministry of Energy has revealed plans to revise legal definitions related to cryptocurrency extraction. According to Deputy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak, vague terminology currently allows “gray” miners to bypass bans in certain regions. Authorities previously prohibited mining in several areas until March 2031.

Their main goal is to clarify criteria specifying exactly when coin extraction constitutes mining. As a result, officials can apply bans and penalties more accurately, avoiding ambiguous interpretations. Additionally, they propose a centralized registry to track hardware, logging ASICs and distributing energy usage quotas.

Despite regional prohibitions, illegal mining volumes in Russia remain high, based on available data. Some analysts fear overly strict rules could deter operators willing to go legal. Nevertheless, authorities believe that clearer regulations will enhance transparency without hampering those who comply properly.