The Central Bank of Russia acknowledges the role of Bitcoin mining in stabilizing the ruble

Article by: Martin

Recently, the public statement made by Elvira Nabiullina, Governor of the Central Bank of Russia, during an RBC interview has attracted global attention. She explicitly pointed out that cryptocurrency mining could be one of the important factors contributing to the strengthening of the ruble. While not directly attributing it, she acknowledged the value inflow brought by mining activities, which has become an auxiliary factor supporting the national currency’s exchange rate. This stance marks a further clarification of Russia’s regulatory attitude towards the crypto mining industry and highlights the industry’s special value in the national economy.

On November 1, 2024, the legalization bill for cryptocurrency mining in Russia officially took effect, laying a institutional foundation for industry development. According to the new regulations, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs are required to register with the special tax registration office, while individual miners must adhere to a monthly energy consumption limit of 6,000 kWh. All practitioners are required to report mining income in accordance with the law.

Supporting tax policies have been implemented simultaneously. Digital currency is recognized as property, mining and sales activities are exempt from value-added tax (VAT), personal income tax is levied at a progressive rate of 13%-15%, and corporate entities are subject to a standard tax rate of 25%.

Under these policy benefits, Russia’s mining industry has rapidly risen. It currently ranks second globally in hash rate, accounting for over 16% of the global share in summer. In 2023, Bitcoin production was approximately 54,000 coins, contributing about 2.5 billion rubles annually to the federal budget.

In this special economic environment, the industry not only creates numerous jobs and attracts overseas investment but also effectively reduces dependence on foreign exchange through experimental cross-border crypto settlement mechanisms, indirectly supporting the stability of the ruble.

It is worth noting that Russia has always adhered to the bottom line of financial security, explicitly stating that cryptocurrencies are not to be used as a means of domestic payment, but only as investment tools. Measures such as regional mining restrictions and tiered electricity pricing are also employed to balance energy consumption issues.

From legalization and regulation to the improvement of the tax framework, Russia is building a “regulation and development-oriented” crypto industry ecosystem. The connection between mining industry and ruble stability has been officially recognized, reflecting innovative exploration in the digital economy era and providing a new reference model for global crypto asset regulation.