The Norwegian government is considering a temporary ban on crypto mining in the country to “free up electricity, network capacity and areas for other purposes.”
In a notice Friday, the Norwegian government said it would conduct an investigation in the fall, which could result in a temporary ban on crypto mining data centres. The authorities said they have the authority to enforce such a prohibition under Norwegian Planning and Building Act, including provisions on energy allocation.
“We are unsure how big a crypto mining will become in Norway in the future,” the notification reads. “The registration requirements for the new data center regulations will enhance knowledge about the scope of data centers that mine cryptocurrency.”
Like many European countries, Norwegian residents face increased costs of electricity as Russian war and sanctions with Ukraine affect the supply of oil and gas in the region. Norwegian locals have previously petitioned crypto mining work to close noise concerns.
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Proposed mining ban in response to environmental concerns and noise
Norway is not the first country to consider a ban on cryptocurrency mining. In January, Russia began imposing bans in 10 regions as part of efforts to limit blackouts and reduce energy consumption.
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China, which was one of the most important sources of crypto mining before 2021, faced a blanket ban and promoted many businesses in US states like Texas. Although US government lawmakers oppose mining due to concerns about energy use, practices remain legal in most jurisdictions and states, making the country one of the biggest contributors to the global Bitcoin (BTC) hashrate.
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