Shulginov named the region with the largest number of illegal crypto farms

The Irkutsk Region has become the region of Russia where the largest number of illegal cryptomining farms were identified in 2025. This was announced on January 21 by Nikolai Shulginov, head of the State Duma Committee on Energy.

"According to open data, in 2025, the largest number of illegal mining farms were discovered in the Irkutsk region, even despite the ban imposed there. And it really is," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Shulginov added that during a working trip to the region, deputies identified so-called "energy fields" where mining rigs can be located under the guise of housing construction, as well as warehouses with thousands of pieces of confiscated equipment, including specially built substations.

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Earlier in the day, it was reported that illegal mining of cryptocurrencies damages the Russian economy by almost 20 billion rubles per year. According to Shulginov, such activities lead to electricity shortages, network wear and tax arrears, and mining is completely banned in 10 regions of Russia and partially restricted in a number of other regions.

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