Governor of Irkutsk Region, Russia: Mining should be banned year-round in areas with energy shortages

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, the governor of Irkutsk Oblast, Igor Kobzev, has called for a year-round ban on cryptocurrency mining in areas with energy shortages.

He stated that the winter ban has released about 300 megawatts of power capacity, but the electricity shortage issue remains severe. Although this policy may impact the local economy and tax revenue, Kobzev emphasized that this measure is crucial for the region's sustainable development.

Currently, mining activities in the northern part of Irkutsk Oblast are still permitted, and the regional government plans to establish a committee to assess the impact of tax policies on the mining industry. The ban is set to last until 2031, but it may lead to an increase in "gray" mining activities while pushing other regions to compete for the mining market.