Norway Plans Temporary Ban on New High-Energy Cryptocurrency Mining Centers

According to Foresight News, the Norwegian Labor Party government has announced plans to impose a temporary ban on new cryptocurrency mining data centers that utilize high-energy proof-of-work (PoW) systems. This measure is expected to take effect in the fall of 2025. Norway's Minister of Digitalization, Karianne Tung, stated that cryptocurrency mining consumes significant amounts of electricity while providing minimal employment and income benefits to local communities. Tung emphasized that the government's decision reflects a clear intention to limit cryptocurrency mining within Norway as much as possible. Despite Norway's abundant renewable hydropower resources, which have long attracted Bitcoin miners seeking low-cost clean energy, regulators believe that these high-capacity electricity resources should be better allocated to sectors such as manufacturing, heating, or AI data processing.