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Mining Rules Tightened
Based on , individual miners who break the rules could face fines of 100,000 to 200,000 rubles. That’s about $1,270 to $2,540. Solo operators and officials could see penalties double, reaching 200,000 to 400,000 rubles ($2,540 to $5,090).Power To Seize Digital Coins
According to Forbes Russia, judges would gain authority to confiscate assets from anyone deemed to be mining off the books. This power could apply to people in mining pools and to larger industrial farms. The move is aimed at stopping unregistered mining that strains local power grids.
BTC hashrate distribution among the biggest known mining farms in the past four days. (Source: Blockchain.com)Last year’s law lets unregistered Russians mine at home, as long as they use under 6,000 kWh per month. That rule will stay in place, but it won’t apply everywhere. About 10 regions, including some areas under Russian control, already have extra limits. Plus, anyone with past economic crime or terrorism convictions will be barred from mining.
Fines For Crypto Payments
The new draft also tackles payments in crypto. Anyone caught using digital coins for regular transactions outside the Central Bank’s sandbox could face up to 1 million rubles ($12,730). The Central Bank says taking away someone’s coins will be the biggest deterrent.
An employee inspects Bitcoin and Litecoin mining rigs at a Russian crypto center in Kirishi. (Getty Images)Mining data centers and hosting firms would have to tell the anti-money laundering agency about how much crypto they mine. They’d also need to share wallet addresses. Missing those steps could lead to more penalties, though the exact fines aren’t clear yet.
A Push Toward Criminal Charges
The ministry wants to change the country’s code so that serious mining violations become criminal offenses. That would raise the stakes. Instead of just paying a ticket, offenders could face criminal records. The proposal is still under interdepartmental review. If it clears that stage, it will go to lawmakers for approval. Until then, miners and firms will watch closely. Many expect this to push some out of Russia’s market or underground. Others may find ways to register and stay within the rules.Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
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