Airdrop Army

The Ministry of Energy in Russia just dropped a fat proposal. They’re saying, “Let’s axe crypto mining in some key zones where the power grid’s already sweating.” This spicy pitch is getting its moment on November 18 when the commission rolls the dice. The deets? Straight from Deputy PM Alexander Novak’s HQ, via TASS.

Grid Under Siege: Why Ban the Hashers?

Here’s the juice: certain spots in Russia have grids hanging by a thread. Toss in subsidized energy prices, and you’ve got a paradise for miners running rigs 24/7. But paradise ain’t free. MinEnergo reckons these energy hogs gotta pause the hustle when the lights flicker. The gov’s got the muscle to enforce bans, they say, whenever the energy vibes get critical.

And where’s the crackdown landing? Think icy Irkutsk, Buryatia’s wild tundra, and the rugged Zabaykalsky Krai. Miners love these zones for their bargain-bin power. But come December 1, 2024, they might be chilling their rigs till March 15, 2025. This seasonal grind freeze could run every winter until 2031.

But wait—there’s more. North Caucasus might be next: Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, and Chechnya. Plus, some politically spicy zones—DPR, LPR, and other annexed territories—could get slapped with restrictions too.

Miners in a Pickle: Pivot or Perish?

Kommersant.ru spilled the beans earlier: the bans could make miners scatter like cockroaches when the lights come on. Energy’s tight in these regions during the cold months, so subsidized juice might dry up for rigs. If this goes through, big players might pack up for greener pastures, while the small fries could go under.

The commission’s call on November 18 is a ticking time bomb for the Russian mining scene. Whether it’s all talk or a full-on mining shutdown, the grid wars are heating up faster than a rig under load.