New Bans Push Industrial Miners into ‘Shadows’

Sergey Bezdelov, head of the Industrial Mining Association, believes partial restrictions across multiple Russian regions are driving companies to operate illegally. Starting December 1, industrial mining is outlawed in ten areas, ostensibly to reduce energy strain.

Yet, Bezdelov explains that some operators prefer the “underground” market, evading high taxes and strict regulation. Observers note this move worsens energy shortages, as unregistered miners often tap unauthorized power lines.

The association proposes an alternative: conduct thorough network audits to detect and disconnect hidden nodes, returning up to 20% of capacity back to the grid. Bezdelov says this measure can address overload concerns without harming lawful miners.