Russia Expands Crypto Mining Registry Requirements to Include IP Addresses

Russia’s Ministry of Finance has approved new rules requiring network IP addresses to be recorded in official crypto mining registries. This tightens the government’s technical oversight of legal mining operations.

A government resolution formalizing the change follows an official Ministry of Finance announcement. The registry system, administered by the Federal Tax Service (FTS), is already mandatory for all entities operating legally as miners or mining infrastructure operators in Russia.

IP Data Extends Technical Disclosure Requirements

The Federal Tax Service maintains separate registries for miners and mining infrastructure operators. Access to registry data is restricted to a narrow group of institutions, including state bodies, courts, the Central Bank of Russia, and power grid operators. The system does not make any part of the data publicly available.

Adding IP addresses extends the technical scope of required disclosures. Until now, registries primarily captured business identification details. The requirement gives regulators a network-level fingerprint for each operation, making it easier to cross-reference declared activity against actual online behavior.

Russia has struggled to bring informal miners into compliance since Russia’s digital asset law legalized the activity in 2024. However, estimates put informal mining tax losses at $122 million, reflecting how many operators continue to work outside the formal registry system.

Violations Trigger Removal from Registry in Russia

Entities found to have submitted inaccurate data, violated antitrust rules, or committed other breaches face immediate removal from the registry. Loss of registry status strips a miner or mining infrastructure operator of the legal right to operate. Russian law generally prohibits unregistered mining activities.

The Ministry of Finance stated the updated framework will improve monitoring of financial risks, regulatory compliance, and energy consumption linked to mining operations. Grid operators receive registry data specifically because mining energy consumption places visible load on regional power infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Russia has already imposed regional crypto mining bans across 10 energy-stressed regions. Ministry of Finance amendments have progressively narrowed the room for informal operations since the law’s passage.

Registry Data Remains Closed to the Public

The system deliberately restricts the registry architecture. Only state institutions with an approved need can request data access. This means oversight of mining operations runs entirely through official channels.

How effectively the Federal Tax Service enforces the updated IP address requirements against the large pool of operators who have yet to register will be a key test of Russia’s ability to bring its crypto mining sector fully under state control.