Russia Mandates Lower-Priority Power for Crypto Miners

The October 6 decree mandates that all new grid connection applications from mining facilities, pools, and infrastructure providers be processed under the Category 4 framework. Unlike standard industrial users who enjoy guaranteed capacity, these miners are now subject to load-shedding without advance coordination. The Ministry of Energy clarified that this reclassification is intended to prioritize residential and essential consumer supply, effectively treating mining operations as non-critical demand.

While the regulation applies to new requests, it also impacts pending applications that have not yet reached completion. In regions where the government has already implemented total mining prohibitions—such as specific parts of the North Caucasus, Siberia, and the Moscow region—electricity providers are barred from even considering new Category 4 requests until those bans are lifted. This policy complements existing seasonal restrictions that have previously targeted energy-strained areas like Buryatia and Irkutsk.

The shift forces mining operators to assume full responsibility for their own uptime. Because Category 4 connections are designed for users willing to accept lower reliability, miners will be the first to face service interruptions during emergency conditions. Authorities have not yet disclosed the total capacity expected to be reclaimed for the public grid, nor have they indicated how many currently operating facilities might face future technical adjustments to align with these stricter connection requirements.