Russia will only connect crypto miners to the grid on terms that let it cut their power at any time

Russia's crypto miners can now get a grid connection only on the weakest terms the power system offers. A government resolution dated October 6 says equipment used for mining, including by mining pools and mining infrastructure operators, may be connected only under the fourth reliability category, according to the text published by the legal database ConsultantPlus.

The fourth category was created by the cabinet in February. It lets a consumer connect even in a region short of power, but that consumer can be cut off at any time and for any length of time if conditions worsen, the news agency PRIME reported on Friday, October 9.

The Energy Ministry said the rule applies in any territory and is meant to rule out a shortage of capacity for other consumers, PRIME reported. The ministry called the decisions timely.

There is a trade-off. The ministry said fourth-category mining can be allowed in places where mining is otherwise banned. Where that happens, the resolution puts miners first in line for repair and emergency cuts, ahead of other fourth-category users, and last to be reconnected. In areas where a ban still covers them, grid companies must stop taking miners' applications until it is lifted.

The resolution does not force working farms to shut down, and the ministry has not said how many are affected, crypto.news reported. Russia already applies seasonal limits on mining in parts of Siberia, including Irkutsk, and restricts it in Moscow and the surrounding region, the outlet said.