Norway’s government may temporarily ban crypto mining as early as autumn 2025. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development announced on June 21 that it will begin an investigation into the country’s mining sector. This probe could lead to a halt in operations under the Planning and Building Act.
Officials said the ban would aim to “free up power, network capacity and area for other purposes.” According to the government notice, they already have legal authority to implement such a restriction. The Planning and Building Act allows for decisions on how energy resources are distributed across industries.
The notice added that it is “uncertain how big a problem crypto mining will become in Norway in the future.” However, the upcoming investigation will rely on new registration requirements to gather better data on crypto mining activity across the country. These rules will apply to data centers that host crypto mining operations.
High Electricity Demand Drives Norway Toward Restrictions
Like other European countries, Norway has experienced higher electricity prices since theRussia-Ukraine war began. Sanctions against Russian energy exports have disrupted the region’s supply of oil and gas. These disruptions have led to cost increases for local residents and placed pressure on grid operators.
Norwegians have also raised concerns about noise from mining operations. In past years, residents in several municipalities petitioned for crypto data centers to shut down, citing noise pollution and land use issues.
The new regulations seek to provide transparency on how many facilities are engaged in crypto mining. According to the government, this information will be crucial to deciding whether and where a temporary ban will apply.
The proposed pause in crypto mining would not affect all data centers. Instead, it would target those specifically mining cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which are known to consume high amounts of energy.
Global Trend of Mining Bans Expands With Norway’s Consideration
Norway would not be the first to explore a mining ban due to energy concerns. Russia banned crypto mining in 10 of its regions earlier this year. That decision came in response to rising power usage and blackouts in remote areas.
China banned all crypto mining in 2021. This pushed several operations to the United States, particularly to states like Texas. In the U.S., some lawmakers have criticized the mining industry for consuming too much power. Still, mining remains legal in most states and continues to contribute significantly to the global Bitcoin hashrate.
As of June 2025, the U.S. remains one of the largest sources of Bitcoin mining globally. Despite rising energy costs, activity remains steady in major mining hubs.
Government to Use New Data Center Rules to Monitor Activity
The upcoming investigation in Norway will use the latest data center registration rules to track energy usage. These rules were introduced to help identify facilities involved in high-consumption activities like crypto mining.
According to the government’s notice, the new system will improve “knowledge about the scope of data centers that mine cryptocurrency.” With accurate registration data, officials plan to assess how much strain these centers place on national resources.
The registration system applies to all data centers, but it includes a section specifically covering crypto mining operations. Facilities that fail to register accurately may face penalties under national regulation.
Authorities have not announced an exact timeline for the investigation’s completion. However, they expect to review findings later this year before making any decisions on temporary restrictions.
