Russia Proposes Penalties for Unregistered Cryptocurrency Miners

According to Cointelegraph, Russia has introduced a draft bill aimed at curbing unregistered cryptocurrency mining activities within its borders. The proposal, put forth by the Ministry of Justice, suggests imposing penalties of up to 1.5 million rubles, equivalent to approximately $19,000, and up to two years of forced labor for those engaged in illegal mining operations. For cases involving significant profits, the penalties could escalate to five years of imprisonment, 480 hours of forced labor, and fines reaching 2.5 million rubles, or about $31,800. The draft amendments to the Criminal Code also target organized groups involved in illegal mining, with similar penalties. Russia's latest legislative move reflects the government's ongoing efforts to regulate and benefit from the burgeoning cryptocurrency mining industry. Miners are mandated to submit a monthly tax form detailing their digital currency production. However, as of June 19, only 30% of miners have registered and legalized their operations, according to Ivan Chebeskov, Russia's Deputy Minister of Finance. Chebeskov emphasized the government's intention to bring the industry out of the shadows, although the process remains incomplete. Miners consuming less than 6,000 kWh monthly are classified as individuals and are exempt from registration with the Federal Tax Register, though they must pay personal income tax on mined cryptocurrency, as per a decree effective November 1, 2024. By the end of October, Russia had 1,364 registered cryptocurrency miners, as reported by Anton Siluanov, the country's Minister of Finance, during a State Duma plenary session. In August 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted laws establishing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency mining, which took effect on November 1, 2024. These laws require compulsory registration and taxation for all mining entities, including infrastructure providers. The legislation also prohibits foreign entities from mining in Russia and grants the government authority to restrict mining in specific regions, a decision that has faced criticism for not fully legalizing crypto mining nationwide.