British Columbia to Permanently Ban New Crypto Mining Projects
British Columbia (B.C.), Canada’s third most populous province, plans to permanently ban new crypto mining projects from using government-supplied electricity. The goal is to protect the province’s clean energy supply and make sure it’s used for industries that create jobs and benefit the public.
In a statement, the government said the move will help manage the growing demand for electricity and ensure that Canada’s economic interests come first when distributing power.
Earlier this week, B.C. submitted the Energy Statutes Amendment Act to the regional legislature. This new law would guarantee that electricity goes to industries that are most valuable to the province’s economy.
The government explained that in other regions, uncontrolled energy use by emerging industries—like crypto mining—has led to higher electricity bills for taxpayers.
“Our new electricity allocation plan will prioritize industries such as mining, natural gas, and low-emission LNG. We want to make sure clean energy is used for projects that give the most benefit to British Columbians,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions.
Starting fall 2025, B.C. will introduce new policies that:
- Limit power use for data centers and artificial intelligence projects, and
- Completely ban new crypto mining operations from connecting to BC Hydro, the province’s main electricity provider, which relies mostly on hydroelectric power.
B.C. had already placed a temporary halt on new crypto mining connections in 2022, but the new rule will make that ban permanent.
“This law will help us expand the North Coast Transmission Line, a major project that will provide clean electricity to support responsible industrial growth and create jobs,” said David Eby, Premier of British Columbia.
