Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto mining is causing power shortages in parts of Russia – and political leaders are wading in with interventions that could seek to limit miners’ output or crank up their energy costs.
Per Vedemosti, Igor Kobzev, the Governor of the Irkutsk Oblast in southeastern Siberia, has written a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak to “complain about illicit cryptocurrency miners” operating in the area – stating that they are causing spikes in consumption.
Novak served as the Minister of Energy from 2012 until last year, when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. However, he still wields considerable power over the energy industry – and there are signs that his successor may be ready to respond with new tariffs
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