- Dagestan officials blame miners for electricity outages and a substation fire due to high energy use.
- From November 2024, miners must register and report to authorities under new Russian laws.
OUR TAKE
This highlights the growing global issue of cryptocurrency mining’s impact on energy infrastructure. In Dagestan, illegal mining is causing power outages, which disrupts daily life and strains public utilities. Additionally, the upcoming “new regulations in Russia” signal a broader governmental effort to control the industry, set legal boundaries, and curb illegal operations. These developments reflect the balance between fostering innovation and addressing the environmental and legal challenges of crypto mining.
–Jennifer Yu, BTW reporter
What happened
Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan is urging tougher action against cryptocurrency miners, who are accused of causing electricity outages and evading regulations by building underground facilities.
Miners are under increased scrutiny globally due to their high energy consumption, as their specialised hardware runs continuously.
Prime minister Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov emphasised the need for better oversight after a substation fire was linked to a surge in power use from miners.
“The owners of illegal cryptocurrency mining installations are finding new ways to ‘circumvent’ the law,” he stated.
The Dagestani government released footage of investigators examining a mining operation in an underground site with cooling fans.
New cryptocurrency mining legislation, endorsed by president Vladimir Putin, will take effect on November 1, 2024. The finance ministry will maintain a register for mining companies, and individual miners will need to provide information to Russia’s financial monitoring regulator.
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Why it’s important
The illegal crypto-mining operations in Dagestan are straining the local power grid, leading to outages and incidents like the substation fire. This highlights the broader issue of unregulated mining activities contributing to “energy crises”, especially in regions with limited infrastructure.
Frequent power outages caused by illegal mining disrupt essential services, affecting households, businesses, and public utilities. This raises concerns about “local stability” and the “economic impact” of such unregulated activities.
Furthermore, the new Russian cryptocurrency legislation, set to take effect in November 2024, is a critical development in combating illegal mining.
By requiring miners to register and report their activities, the government is stepping up efforts to enforce legal boundaries, improve oversight, and protect energy resources.
