Russia rolls out crypto mining equipment registry amid crackdown on illegal miners: report

Russia has launched a national registry for cryptocurrency mining equipment and deployed it to regions with high mining activity, according to state-owned news agency RIA Novosti.Developed through a joint effort by Russia's Ministry of Energy, the Federal Tax Service, and the Ministry of Digital Development, the registry's primary goal is to identify energy consumption by mining operations accurately. This sets the ground for applying taxes and regulations, RIA Novosti's report said.The Energy Ministry first proposed the idea of creating such a registry in February, stating that it seeks to make unregistered crypto mining activity impossible.Ahead of the crypto mining equipment registry, Russian authorities placed crypto mining bans on six regions where the activity is prohibited until March 2031. The ban was reportedly placed to address power shortages.Earlier this year, Russia's Federal Tax Service enabled miners to report their crypto earnings online, following President Vladimir Putin's approval of a tax framework for crypto miners that took effect in 2025.In a concurrent effort to manage energy demands, Russian authorities have imposed crypto-mining bans in multiple regions for six years, effective until March 15, 2031.The Ministry of Digital Development also drafted legislation that would allow courts to seize digital assets and impose substantial fines on those violating mining regulations. Proposed fines could apply a maximum of 2 million rubles (around $22,000 USD) for mining companies, according to Forbes Russia.These concerted actions underscore Russia's determination to bring its significant mining hash rates for PoW networks, such as Bitcoin, under state control.Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.