In a bold move to bring order to the wild west of cryptocurrency mining, Russia has rolled out a national registry for Bitcoin mining equipment. This initiative, spearheaded by the Russian Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Federal Tax Service and the Ministry of Digital Development, aims to clamp down on illicit activities and ensure miners play by the rules.
The registry, already being distributed to key mining regions across the country, is designed to track down operators using electricity for crypto mining. Why does this matter? It’s all about transparency and taxation. By identifying who’s mining and how much power they’re consuming, authorities can enforce proper oversight and make sure the government gets its fair share of revenue.
Petr Konyushenko, Deputy Energy Minister, emphasized that this step is about formalizing the industry. “We’re shining a light on miners operating in the shadows,” he said. Official figures paint a stark picture—only about 30% of crypto miners in Russia are registered, leaving a whopping 70% off the regulatory radar. This registry is a key tool to bridge that gap.
This isn’t the first time Russia has tried to tame the crypto mining beast. Earlier in 2025, Deputy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak announced plans for this system, highlighting its role in boosting transparency and curbing illegal power usage. Despite a nationwide framework introduced in 2024 to regulate mining and transactions, unauthorized operations have persisted. In fact, the government has even slapped a six-year mining ban on ten regions grappling with electricity shortages, though enforcement remains a challenge.
However, not everyone is thrilled about the registry. Some experts and lawmakers, including Anton Gorelkin, have raised red flags about potential security risks. Including wallet addresses in the registry could expose miners to threats from adversarial nations or even lead to targeted sanctions—a geopolitical headache Russia might not be ready for.
For now, the registry marks a significant step toward regulating one of the world’s largest crypto mining hubs. Russia’s push to balance innovation with control continues, but will this be enough to rein in the underground mining scene? Only time will tell.
