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In Russia, there are proposals to impose actual prison sentences on miners., 2026/03/23 16:48:22
The Russian government has proposed an amendment to the Criminal Code regarding illegal mining activities. Penalties and prison sentences could be imposed for cryptocurrency extraction without registration in the state registry of miners and mining infrastructure operators.
The draft law adds Article 171.6 “Illegal mining of digital currency and activities of mining infrastructure operators” to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and the government commission on legislative activities has already endorsed this initiative, as reported by RBC.
The first part of the new article is intended to be applied when the actions of offenders result in significant damage or yield income exceeding 3.5 million rubles. Offenders may face fines of up to 1.5 million rubles or an amount equivalent to their income over a period of up to two years. As a form of punishment, mandatory work for up to 480 hours or forced labor for up to two years may be imposed. In the case of a first offense, miners/operators may be exempt from liability if they fully compensate for the damage, according to the draft law.
The second part of the article intensifies the penalties for illegal mining “committed by a group of individuals” or causing particularly large damage (or generating income) of 13 million rubles or more. In such instances, offenders may face fines ranging from 500,000 to 2.5 million rubles or an amount equivalent to their income over a period of one to three years. Additionally, forced labor for up to five years or imprisonment for up to five years with a fine of up to 400,000 rubles may be imposed. There is no provision for evasion of criminal liability even in cases of full compensation for damages.
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In all cases, the confiscation of illegally mined cryptocurrency is stipulated, as noted by RBC.
Approximately 50,000 individuals and legal entities are engaged in mining activities in Russia, according to the explanatory note to the draft law. However, only 1,489 entities are registered in the miners’ registry: 609 legal entities and 880 individual entrepreneurs.
The effective date of the amendments has not yet been specified in either the changes themselves or the accompanying documents, RBC points out.
A draft law on administrative liability for violations of mining regulations is already under consideration in the State Duma. In mid-March, the Duma’s energy committee recommended the adoption of these amendments in the first reading.
