Canadian province to ban new crypto mining connections
British Columbia is permanently banning new crypto mining connections to its power grid starting in fall 2025 due to high electricity demand.Summary
The government of British Columbia (BC) announced new legislation that includes a permanent ban on new BC Hydro connections for cryptocurrency miners, effective in the fall of 2025. This measure is being implemented to address unprecedented electricity demand and help the state-owned utility, BC Hydro, manage growth responsibly while prioritizing reliable, clean, and affordable energy for traditional sectors like mining and emerging sectors like data centers and AI. The government cited the crypto mining sector's "disproportionate energy consumption and limited economic benefit" as the reason for the ban, contrasting with its support for data centers and AI. This permanent ban follows an initial 18-month moratorium implemented in December 2022. The long-term impact on existing mining operations in the province, such as those run by Bitfarms and Iren, remains uncertain.
(Source：Cointelegraph)