Norway Proposes Temporary Crypto Mining Ban to Ease Energy Strains
Norwegian authorities are set to investigate and potentially impose a temporary ban on crypto mining from autumn 2025 under the Planning and Building Act. The move aims to free up to 200 MW of hydropower capacity, network bandwidth and land amid rising power prices, grid strain and winter peak demand. New data-center registration rules will track energy usage by mining operations to improve transparency and inform the scope of any pause. Proposed restrictions target high-consumption Bitcoin (BTC) facilities, with exemptions for heat-capture setups and small-scale miners. The draft rules are under public consultation, and a final decision is expected by early next year.
Bearish
The proposed temporary ban on high-consumption Bitcoin mining in Norway introduces significant regulatory risk for miners, potentially reducing demand for mining hardware and energy contracts. In the short term, bearish sentiment may prevail as traders factor in tighter energy-based curbs that could slow mining growth. Over the long term, while transparency measures and exemptions for heat-capture facilities may mitigate some impact, the news underscores increasing regulatory scrutiny on crypto’s environmental footprint, likely weighing on Bitcoin’s market stability.