Belarus Scales Nuclear Crypto Mining to Cut Dollar Reliance

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered government agencies to scale crypto mining using surplus electricity from the Ostrovets nuclear power plant. The plant’s 2,400 MW capacity, which provides 40% of national supply, is earmarked for large-scale crypto mining to reduce reliance on the US dollar. Officials must propose measures to boost electricity consumption and expand crypto mining nationwide. He also suggested creating state crypto reserves if mining proves profitable. The National Bank will launch a digital ruble CBDC for businesses by late 2026 and open it to the public in 2027, in coordination with Russia’s CBDC plans. Regulators will adjust taxes and tariffs to support crypto mining growth, tighten oversight of trading platforms to prevent fraud and capital flight, and enforce new rules on fund handling and reporting.