Russia Proposes Prison Time for Illegal Crypto Mining Operations

Russia’s Ministry of Justice has unveiled criminal penalties for unregistered crypto mining, including fines of up to 1.5 million rubles and prison sentences of up to 5 years for large-scale operations.

The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code target miners operating outside the Federal Tax Service registry established on November 1, 2024, when Russia legalized the industry.

The draft legislation introduces Article 171.6, which imposes graduated sanctions based on the scale and organization of the offense.

Individual violators causing significant damage or generating income above 3.5 million rubles face fines up to 1.5 million rubles, compulsory labor up to 480 hours, or forced labor for two years, according to the regulatory draft posted on the government portal.

Organized Operations Face Harsher Punishment

Penalties escalate sharply for organized groups or operations exceeding 13.5 million rubles in income.

Offenders in this category face fines of 500,000 to 2.5 million rubles, forced labor for up to 5 years, or imprisonment for 5 years, with additional fines of up to 400,000 rubles.

The legislation arrives as Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the government plans to introduce criminal liability for illegal mining and unlicensed lenders in 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. | Source: Bloomberg

While Russia has worked to legitimize mining through mandatory registration and taxation frameworks, enforcement remains challenging.

Legal entities and entrepreneurs must register with the Federal Tax Service and report monthly earnings through dedicated online portals, with over 1,000 participants enrolled in the registries as of May 2025.

Corporate miners pay 25% tax rates while individuals face progressive rates of 13-22%, though household miners consuming under 6,000 kWh monthly remain exempt from registration.

Despite legalization efforts, illegal operations continue draining the power grid and tax base.

Back in October, Cryptonews reported that fear of high taxes and electricity costs drives many miners underground, with annual budget losses reaching billions of rubles as operators manipulate meters, bribe utility workers, and establish secret agreements with power companies.

Experts estimate nearly 140,000 Bitcoin and altcoin mining farms operate across Russia, with power officials claiming the majority remain undeclared and underground.

Power Theft Investigations Uncover Widespread Fraud

Recent crackdowns have exposed the scale of illegal activity across multiple regions. St. Petersburg authorities confiscated over 2,700 mining rigs from a facility that had bypassed meters since 2018, costing the grid approximately half a billion rubles.

Police arrested an Omsk Thermal Power Plant employee who accepted 500,000 rubles in bribes to facilitate grid theft, while Dagestan investigators discovered massive farms hidden inside coolant tanks.

Illegal crypto miners in a Russian facility.

“The illegal crypto mining farm was using more power than an entire five-story building,” one power supply employee stated.

In July, Rosseti North Caucasus reported that illegal miners in Ingushetia alone stole 35.4 million kWh worth over $4.3 million during the first half of 2025, accounting for 94% of all unaccounted consumption in the republic.

Energy providers have deployed thermal-imaging drones and offered staff bonuses for uncovering underground operations as illegal mining becomes increasingly sophisticated, with mobile units housed in trucks and vans.

The enforcement challenges extend beyond power theft to operational disruptions.

In Kiritsy village near Moscow, Rospotrebnadzor ordered the mining firm Integral to suspend operations for 30 days after residents complained that noise levels from gas piston turbine generators exceeded 50 decibels.

Residents reported headaches, hearing loss, and general health deterioration, with plans to install 20 additional turbines threatening to worsen conditions near a children’s tuberculosis healthcare center.

Economic Significance Drives Regulatory Focus

The enforcement push comes as Russia’s crypto mining industry gains economic significance.

Senior Kremlin official Maxim Oreshkin has argued that mining should be classified as an export activity, with industry estimates suggesting Russia produces tens of thousands of Bitcoins annually, generating approximately 1 billion rubles in daily revenue.

The Industrial Mining Association reports Russia ranks second globally for mining, accounting for over 16% of the world’s hashrate during the summer months.

Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina also acknowledged mining contributes to the ruble’s strength, though quantifying its impact remains difficult as much of the sector operates in gray areas beyond regulatory oversight.

The proposed criminal penalties represent Moscow’s attempt to capture tax revenues, prevent grid damage, and maintain the industry’s contribution to foreign exchange markets and the national economy.