
Norway’s Labour Party government has announced plans to enforce a temporary ban on new crypto mining data centers that utilize energy-intensive proof-of-work systems, per Reuters.
- The regulation, aimed at conserving electricity for more productive industries, may begin in Autumn 2025, pending approval.
- Despite Norway’s significant renewable energy resources, regulators prefer to allocate power to manufacturing, heating, or AI workloads.
“Cryptocurrency mining is very power-intensive and generates little in the way of jobs and income for the local community,” stated Minister for Digitalization, Karianne Tung. She added that this move shows the government’s clear intent to limit cryptocurrency mining as much as possible.
Norway, known for its abundant renewable hydropower, has previously attracted Bitcoin miners seeking affordable, clean energy. Companies like Kryptovault have set up operations near Oslo, operating data centers with high capacities while recycling heat for local use. Nonetheless, regulatory perspectives are shifting towards diverting energy towards more beneficial sectors.