Norway Plans Ban on New Crypto Mining Data Centers to Preserve Power

Norway’s Labour Party government has revealed plans to impose a temporary ban on any new crypto mining data centres that use energy‑heavy proof‑of‑work systems, per Reuters.

The proposed rule could kick in Autumn 2025, if approved, and is aimed at preserving electricity capacity for more productive industries.

“Cryptocurrency mining is very power-intensive and generates little in the way of jobs and income for the local community,” said Minister for Digitalization Karianne Tung, adding the move reflects the government’s “clear intention to limit the mining of cryptocurrency in Norway as much as possible.”

Norway, with its vast renewable hydropower resources, has long attracted Bitcoin miners seeking low‑cost, clean energy. Companies like Kryptovault have established operations outside Oslo — running data centres up to 40 MW, recycling heat to dry wood or warm nearby buildings.

Despite the renewable backdrop, mining farms require continuous, high-capacity power resources that regulators increasingly view as better deployed to manufacturing, heating, or AI data workloads.