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Bitcoin Mining Legality by Country

Is Bitcoin mining legal where you live? This reference maps the legal status of mining across dozens of countries — and in most places what is actually regulated is grid power and tax, not the act of hashing itself. Each row carries a plain-language summary, a credible source and an as-of date. Informational only; not legal advice.

Quick answer

This reference summarises the legal status of Bitcoin mining across 29 countries — from welcoming (legal, sometimes incentivised) through legal-with-restrictions and restricted, to outright banned. In most places "legality" is really about grid-connection permits, energy caps and tax treatment rather than the act of hashing itself. Each row gives a plain-language summary, a credible or official source, and the date it was checked. It complements D-Central's detailed Canada and US-state references.

Informational reference only — not legal advice. National policy changes quickly and often hinges on grid-connection or energy rules rather than mining itself. Confirm the current position on the source linked in each row, check for local/regional rules, and consult a qualified professional before acting.

Heads-up: this is an informational reference, not legal advice. Bitcoin-mining policy changes fast and is usually about grid connection and energy, not the act of mining. Verify the current position on the source linked in each row.

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CountryRegionStatusSummaryAs of
United StatesNorth AmericaLegal with restrictionsLegal federally with no blanket ban; rules vary by state. Texas offers mining incentives while New York placed a moratorium on new fossil-fueled proof-of-work mining. Mining income is taxed. source →2026
CanadaNorth AmericaLegal with restrictionsLegal nationwide; the constraint is grid access, not the act of mining. British Columbia is permanently barring new crypto-mining grid connections, and some other provinces limit new mining loads (see our Canada rules reference). source →2025-10
El SalvadorLatin AmericaLegalBitcoin is legal but, after a Jan 2025 reform tied to an IMF program, no longer mandatory legal tender; merchant acceptance is voluntary. The state runs geothermal ('volcano') Bitcoin mining. source →2025-02
ParaguayLatin AmericaLegal with restrictionsMining is legal but operators must register with the state; utility ANDE raised industrial mining tariffs, and stealing power for mining carries penalties of up to 10 years. source →2025-12
VenezuelaLatin AmericaBannedAuthorities disconnected crypto-mining farms from the national grid and seized thousands of rigs in 2024 amid an electricity crisis; grid-connected mining is effectively prohibited. source →2024-05
BrazilLatin AmericaLegalMining itself is legal and not specifically regulated, falling under general energy, import and tax rules. Crypto gains are taxed (flat 17.5% since 2025); VASP rules cover exchanges, not miners. source →2025-11
United KingdomEuropeLegalMining is legal with no mining-specific licence; income is subject to income tax. A new FCA cryptoasset regime being phased in for 2025-26 targets services, not mining itself. source →2026
GermanyEuropeLegalMining is legal without a special permit; rewards are taxed as income. Large commercial operations may require BaFin authorisation. source →2026
NorwayEuropeLegal with restrictionsExisting mining is legal, but in 2025 the government proposed a temporary ban on new crypto-mining data centres to conserve power (pending approval at the time of reporting). source →2025-06
IcelandEuropeLegal with restrictionsMining is legal, but national utility Landsvirkjun has stopped supplying power to new miners amid shortages; existing operations continue while expansion is effectively frozen. source →2024
RussiaEuropeLegal with restrictionsMining was legalised in 2024 for registered firms and entrepreneurs, but is banned outright in about ten regions and during winter peak periods in others (e.g. Irkutsk, Buryatia) through 2031. source →2024-12
KazakhstanAsiaLegal with restrictionsMining is legal under licensing/registration and electricity-consumption quotas, with mining taxed; 2025 reforms eased earlier rules that required selling mined output via the AIFC exchange. source →2025
SwedenEuropeLegalMining is legal, but Sweden scrapped data-centre tax breaks in July 2023, sharply raising electricity tax on miners and eroding the country's competitiveness as a mining location. source →2023-07
FinlandEuropeLegalMining is legal and taxed as earned income; from July 2026 data centres (including miners) move to a higher electricity-tax category, raising operating costs. source →2025
ChinaAsiaBannedCrypto mining and trading have been banned since the Sept 2021 crackdown (NDRC and PBOC). The ban remains in force and is periodically re-enforced, though some underground mining persists. source →2021-09
IranMiddle EastLegal with restrictionsMining is legal only with a licence; licensed miners pay higher tariffs and must sell output to the central bank, and face seasonal shutdowns at peak demand. Unlicensed mining is illegal and policed. source →2025
BhutanAsiaLegalMining is legal and state-led: government holding company Druk uses surplus hydropower to mine Bitcoin, making Bhutan one of the largest sovereign Bitcoin holders. source →2025-04
IndiaAsiaLegal with restrictionsMining is not banned, but there is no dedicated framework; crypto income is taxed at a flat 30% plus 1% TDS with no cost deductions, which makes mining largely unviable in practice. source →2025
PakistanAsiaLegalThe government is embracing mining: in 2025 it earmarked about 2,000 MW of surplus power for Bitcoin mining and AI and floated a strategic reserve, though the IMF rejected subsidised tariffs. Framework developing. source →2025-05
MalaysiaAsiaLegalMining is legal when power is lawfully supplied and taxed, but unauthorised use of electricity is a crime; the utility reports about US$1.1B of mining-linked power theft (2020-25) and runs ongoing crackdowns. source →2025-12
GeorgiaAsiaLegalMining is legal and largely unregulated; individual miners are exempt from VASP registration and low hydropower prices made Georgia a major hub. Authorities are tackling grid-theft mining in some regions. source →2025
United Arab EmiratesMiddle EastLegal with restrictionsMining is legal but treated as a licensable commercial activity, regulated through free zones and authorities (e.g. ADGM, VARA, RAKEZ); large-scale mining on the public grid is restricted. source →2026-02
OmanMiddle EastLegal with restrictionsMining is legal and state-encouraged under licensing, with major free-zone investment; from 2025 all licensed miners must route hashrate through the mandatory national pool (Omanhash). source →2025
BahrainMiddle EastLegal with restrictionsCrypto-asset services are legal under Central Bank of Bahrain licensing; there is no mining-specific regime, so commercial mining falls under general crypto-asset/VASP rules and compliance. source →2025
KuwaitMiddle EastBannedCrypto mining has been banned since July 2023 (CMA circular and interior ministry directive), treated as unlawful use of power; authorities ran wide crackdowns on illegal mining sites in 2025. source →2025
EthiopiaAfricaLegal with restrictionsMining has been licensed since 2023 (state power deals, ~600 MW), but new permits were frozen in 2024 and officials signal a wind-down over grid strain; separately, crypto trading and payments are banned. source →2025-08
AngolaAfricaBannedCrypto mining was criminalised under the April 2024 prohibition law (with prison terms of 1-5 years) to protect the power grid; Interpol-coordinated raids followed in 2025. source →2024-04
South AfricaAfricaLegalCrypto is legal (not legal tender) and regulated as a financial product; service providers need an FSCA licence and mining income is taxed by SARS. There is no mining-specific prohibition. source →2025
AustraliaOceaniaLegalMining is legal with no mining-specific licence; operators must meet tax, zoning, electrical, noise and safety rules. High power costs limit profitability. A 2025 digital-asset bill targets platforms, not miners. source →2025

Each row is sourced and dated; status often reflects grid-connection or energy policy rather than a ban on mining. For the detailed regional pictures see D-Central's Canada mining rules and US-state mining climate references, the companion mining-legality explainer, and the open data hub. Informational only; not legal advice.

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Last reviewed June 27, 2026.