TechFlow News, May 9: According to bits.media, Russia’s State Duma Legal Committee has recommended the first reading of a government-proposed bill that introduces criminal liability for illegal cryptocurrency mining. The bill proposes adding Article 171.6 to the Criminal Code, classifying unregistered mining and operating mining infrastructure without a license as criminal offenses.
Regarding specific penalties: individuals whose income from such activities exceeds 3.5 million rubles face fines of up to 1.5 million rubles or up to two years of compulsory labor; if the offense constitutes organized crime or income exceeds 13 million rubles, penalties may include fines of up to 2.5 million rubles or up to five years’ imprisonment, along with confiscation of mined cryptocurrencies.
The government stated that Russia currently hosts approximately 50,000 miners, yet only 1,489 are officially registered; this legislation aims to bring illegally operating miners into compliance.
